Banks to Remain Closed for Four Consecutive Days in Bihar; Customers Advised to Complete Urgent Work in Advance

Bank customers in Bihar are set to face significant inconvenience over the coming days, as banks will remain closed for four consecutive days due to a combination of holidays and a nationwide strike by bank employees. Customers have been strongly advised to complete all essential banking transactions in advance to avoid financial difficulties.

According to the official holiday calendar, banks will remain closed on January 24 (fourth Saturday), January 25 (Sunday), and January 26 (Republic Day). Immediately following these holidays, banking operations are expected to come to a halt on January 27 (Tuesday) as various bank unions have called for a nationwide strike in support of their pending demands. As a result, both public and private sector banks are likely to remain shut for four continuous days.

Three-Day Holiday Followed by Nationwide Strike

The disruption will begin on Saturday, January 24, when banks close for the fourth Saturday of the month. This will be followed by the regular Sunday holiday and the national holiday on Republic Day. The situation is expected to worsen on January 27 due to the strike, raising concerns among the general public.

Banking experts have advised customers to make necessary cash arrangements in advance and rely on digital payment methods wherever possible. They have also cautioned that prolonged closure of bank branches may lead to cash shortages at ATMs in several areas.

Unions Firm on Five-Day Banking Demand

The strike on January 27 has been called by bank employees under the banner of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU). The unions have been demanding the implementation of a five-day work week in banks, along with wage revisions and improvements in service conditions.

In several districts of Bihar, including Patna, Purnia, and Motihari, bank employees have organized rallies and awareness campaigns to gather public support for the strike. Reports suggest that employees from both public and private sector banks are likely to participate, making the shutdown widespread.

Impact on Public and Business Transactions

The four-day closure is expected to have a noticeable impact on business activities and personal financial transactions across the state. Services such as cheque clearance, RTGS, and demand draft issuance are likely to remain suspended until banking operations resume.

While digital banking services, including mobile apps and internet banking, are expected to remain functional, customers requiring branch-level services will have to wait until January 28 for normal operations to resume.

Authorities and banking officials have reiterated their appeal to customers to plan their financial activities accordingly to minimize inconvenience during this extended shutdown.