Banks shut for four days in Telangana from September 11 due to strike

Banking operations across Telangana will face severe disruption for four consecutive days starting September 11, 2026, after the United Forum of Bank Unions announced a one-day strike that, combined with the weekend and a festival holiday, will keep branches shut until September 15.

The State Level Bankers' Committee, Telangana, has issued an advisory asking customers to complete their banking transactions well in advance and rely on digital channels during the disruption period.

Strike to halt branch operations on September 11

The UFBU has called for a nationwide strike from the midnight of September 10, 2026, to midnight of September 11, 2026. If the strike materialises, no branch banking services such as cheque deposits, cash withdrawals through tellers, or processing of home, automobile or gold loans will be available on September 11, 2026.

Banks will remain closed on the second Saturday and Sunday that follow, and operations will not resume until after the Ganesh Chaturthi holiday on the subsequent day.

The Convenor of the State Level Bankers' Committee, Telangana, said efforts are being made to extend skeleton services at branches and offices during the strike period, but customers may experience inconvenience in the event normal operations are affected.

Over 6,800 branches across Telangana to be impacted

Telangana has 6,801 branches of public and private banks as per official numbers updated till June 30, 2026. Of these, 3,324 branches belong to public sector banks, where the strike impact will be felt severely as UFBU affiliates draw most of their memberships from among employees and officers across PSBs.

The State has 1,615 urban branches, while the rest is almost equally split between rural and semi-urban locations. State Bank of India, which is the Convenor of the SLBC in Telangana, operates 1,301 branches and accounts for nearly 40% of the bank branches in the State.

SLBC advises digital banking, advance planning

The SLBC has requested customers to plan and complete their banking transactions well in advance to avoid inconvenience. It has also advised customers to make use of ATMs for their cash requirements and prefer internet banking, UPI and other digital banking channels.

"The bank sincerely regrets the inconvenience that may be caused to our customers due to the proposed strike," the bankers body said.

Five-day week, opposition to incentive scheme drive strike call

The UFBU, which comprises nine unions representing lakhs of employees and officers across banks, has given the September 11 strike call as a first step of a multi-pronged agitation in support of various demands, including implementation of a five-day week and opposing a performance linked incentive scheme proposed by the government. An indefinite strike also figures in the protest plans of the Forum.

The Centre earlier this week said the implementation of the PLI Scheme dated 19.11.2024 for Financial Year 2025, 26 will be kept in abeyance and discussed during ongoing bipartite settlement/joint note discussions. However, the move seems to have had little effect, with the UFBU remaining firm on the strike.

Last minute parleys leading to the withdrawal of the strike call cannot be ruled out, particularly with Delhi set to play host to the prestigious BRICS summit.

Source: The Hindu