SBI Bank Closure: Big secret of SBI Bank remaining closed for 6 days! Branch services remained halted between 23–28 May due to weekend strike and Bakrid holiday. Big impact on check clearing, cash transactions and passbook updates. Is there going to be a crisis in the banking system?
New Delhi: A very important and shocking news has come to the fore for crores of customers of the country’s largest government bank, State Bank of India (SBI). If any important work related to your bank branch is stuck, then you have only time left for today (May 22, Friday). After this you will find the doors of the bank closed for the next 6 days. There is a possibility of complete stoppage of work in SBI branches across the country from 23 May to 28 May 2026. Customers may have to face huge problems for basic facilities like withdrawing cash, clearing checks and printing passbooks. After all, why is the bank going to be locked for 6 days suddenly?
That ‘dangerous’ week of the calendar: the triangle of weekend, strike and festival!
There is no single reason behind the banks being closed, but there is a combination of holidays and anger of the employees which has increased the concerns of the customers. This 6-day great crisis is going to start from tomorrow:
- 23rd and 24th May (Saturday and Sunday): Due to it being the fourth Saturday of the month, banks will remain closed on 23rd May, immediately after which there is a weekly holiday of Sunday on 24th May.
- May 25 and 26 (Monday and Tuesday): The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) has announced a nationwide two-day strike, leading to lockouts at the beginning of the working week.
- May 27 and 28 (Wednesday and Thursday): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has declared two-day holidays in view of the festival of Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha) in different parts of the country.
Why did SBI employees get angry? These 16 demands stalled the system
This strike has been called mainly by the ‘Workmen Category’ (clerks and class IV staff). The ‘All India State Bank of India Staff Federation’ has put forward a long charter of 16-point demands before the bank management. The employees allege that outsourcing of permanent work is being done in the bank, which should be stopped immediately. Their key demands include new permanent recruitment of messengers and armed guards, freedom to choose fund managers in NPS, restoration of ‘inter circle transfer’ for staff recruited after 2019, and most importantly—an immediate end to the practice of mis-selling customers by putting pressure on employees in the name of ‘cross-selling’ (selling insurance and mutual funds).
Support of ATM and net banking, but there will be ‘brake’ on check clearance
Since clerks and counter staff are involved in this strike, work like going to bank branches to withdraw money, opening a new account, getting an FD, getting a loan passed or getting a demand draft made will be completely stopped. The biggest shock will be felt by those who transact through cheques, because during this period the process of check clearing will come to a standstill. The only thing of relief is that even during this great crisis, digital services like SBI YONO app, Net Banking (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS), Google Pay, PhonePe and ATM will continue to work smoothly. But if your work is possible only through branch manager or cash counter, then without any delay visit your nearest SBI branch today.