Customers of the State Bank of India (SBI), the nation's largest bank, should note that branches may be closed for six consecutive days from May 23 to May 28, 2026. This extensive closure period is a result of a combination of weekend holidays, a planned staff strike, and the observance of Eid al-Adha (Bakrid).
Individuals needing to conduct in-person transactions at an SBI branch are strongly advised to complete their business before May 23 to avoid inconvenience.
Reasons Behind the Six-Day Closure
The upcoming closure period stems from several scheduled events and actions:
- May 23 (Thursday): Fourth Saturday of the month, a standard bank holiday.
- May 24 (Friday): Sunday, a regular weekly bank holiday.
- May 25-26 (Saturday-Sunday): Proposed two-day strike by the SBI Staff Federation.
- May 27-28 (Monday-Tuesday): Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) holiday, as declared by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This holiday will be observed for two days in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, and potentially on different days across other parts of the country.
Details of the Proposed Staff Strike
The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation has announced a proposed strike for May 25 and 26, 2026. The federation, which represents SBI employees nationwide, is seeking resolutions for several issues. These include concerns over recruitment practices, the selection of National Pension System (NPS) fund managers, the outsourcing of jobs, equality issues within SBI, and a review of the career progression scheme and Human Resource Management System (HRMS).
Online and Digital Services Remain Operational
Despite the potential closure of physical branches, SBI assures its customers that all digital and online banking services will continue to function normally. This includes:
- Net banking
- Mobile banking applications
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions
- Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
Customers can rely on these alternative channels for managing their accounts, making payments, and withdrawing cash during the affected period.