Alert: Banks Closed Today in MP; 7,000 Branches Locked Amid Nationwide Strike

Bhopal, January 27, 2026: A major disruption has hit the banking sector in Madhya Pradesh today. Nearly 40,000 bank employees in the state have joined a one-day nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The protest is aimed at pressing for the implementation of a five-day work week in the banking industry.

Over 7,000 Branches in MP Likely to Remain Shut
As a result of the strike, more than 7,000 bank branches across Madhya Pradesh could remain closed, potentially affecting financial transactions worth millions of rupees. Both public and private sector banks are participating in this protest.

Work to Remain Disrupted Across the State
Cities including Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, and Gwalior will witness a halt in banking operations. The strike will directly impact cheque clearances, cash withdrawals, and other financial transactions. ATMs may also experience cash shortages during the day.

Twelve Major Banks Participate
The strike includes employees of 12 major public sector banks such as Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, State Bank of India, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India. Officers and staff of private sector banks have also joined, amplifying the disruption across the state.

Demand for a Five-Day Work Week
The protestors are demanding the central government approve a five-day work week for the banking sector. Currently, employees get a holiday only on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The union wants all remaining Saturdays to be declared as full holidays, replacing the current half-working days.

Nationwide Participation of 800,000 Bank Employees
VK Sharma, the coordinator of UFBU in Madhya Pradesh, stated that a total of 8 lakh employees and officers from government, private, foreign, regional rural, and cooperative banks are participating nationwide, with 40,000 participants from Madhya Pradesh alone.

Long-Standing Demand
The demand for a five-day work week has been ongoing for years. According to Sharma, the 10th Bipartite Settlement/7th Joint Note of 2015 reached between the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the central government had approved holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays. However, employees have long sought full holidays on all remaining Saturdays.