Bank unions call nationwide strike on 27 January over five-day week demand, report says

One-day strike called across banking system

Bank employee and officer unions under the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) have called for a one-day nationwide strike on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, saying promised changes to the work calendar have not been implemented. The action is scheduled from midnight 26 January to midnight 27 January, according to a report carried by BMS Money, which cited a Reuters link while summarising the development.

The central demand highlighted in the report is implementation of a five-day work week for banks, with all Saturdays treated as holidays. Union representatives have argued that several other institutions and market infrastructure bodies already follow similar schedules, and that banking staff should receive comparable treatment.

Why unions say talks failed

The report said conciliation meetings did not resolve the issue, pushing unions toward industrial action. It also linked the demand to a previous wage-settlement process, where unions say the five-day week was agreed in principle but has not been executed through a final operational framework.

Strikes typically affect branch-level operations, including cash handling and in-person services, though digital channels may remain available depending on bank-level contingencies and the extent of participation.

What customers may need to plan for

• Possible disruption of branch banking, cheque clearing and some back-office services.
• Longer queues or rescheduling for services that require in-person verification.
• Digital payments and mobile banking usually continue, but may be slower for support requests.

Customers with time-sensitive transactions were advised to check bank notices and complete essential branch visits ahead of the strike window.