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SBI Customers Alert: Bank Branches May Remain Closed for 6 Consecutive Days From May 23 to 28

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, New Delhi
  • May 22, 2026
  • 155

Customers of State Bank of India are advised to complete all important branch-related work by Friday, May 22, 2026, as SBI branches across several parts of India may remain closed for up to six consecutive days between May 23 and May 28.

The possible disruption is due to weekend holidays, a proposed nationwide strike by SBI employees, and Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha) holidays declared by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Why SBI Branches May Remain Closed Between May 23 and 28

Several factors are likely to affect banking operations during this period:

Weekend Holidays

  • May 23 (Saturday) is the fourth Saturday of the month.
  • May 24 (Sunday) is a regular weekly holiday.

As per RBI norms, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays.

Proposed SBI Employees’ Strike

The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation has proposed a two-day nationwide strike on May 25 and 26 (Monday and Tuesday).

If the strike proceeds as planned, branch operations across the country could be affected.

Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha) Holidays

Bakrid holidays will vary across states depending on local moon sighting and government notifications.

  • Most states are expected to observe the holiday on May 27.
  • Some regions may observe it on May 28.
  • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, banks are expected to remain closed on both May 27 and 28.

Why SBI Employees Are Planning a Strike

The AISBISF has announced the strike to press for 16 key demands related to employee welfare, staffing, pension benefits, career growth, and customer service conditions.

The federation stated that the strike aims to:

  • Protect employee rights
  • Improve working conditions
  • Ensure better customer service standards
  • Reduce workload pressure on existing staff

Expected Impact on SBI Customers

Since the proposed strike mainly involves workmen-category employees, including clerical staff, several branch services may be disrupted, such as:

  • Cash deposit and withdrawal counters
  • Cheque clearing services
  • Passbook updates
  • Customer support at branches
  • Routine transaction processing

Online banking, UPI services, ATMs, and 

mobile banking are expected to function normally unless separately affected.

16 Major Demands Raised by SBI Employees 

  • Immediate permanent recruitment for vacant messenger (Class IV) posts.
  • Recruitment of adequate armed guards for branch security.
  • Freedom for NPS employees to choose their pension fund manager.
  • Inter-circle transfer opportunities for employees recruited after 2019.
  • Immediate ban on outsourcing permanent nature jobs.
  • Recruitment of adequate staff to handle increasing workload.
  • Removal of salary and benefits disparities among SBI employees.
  • Review and improvement of career progression and promotion policies.
  • Granting the 8th stagnation increment benefit to retired employees under the 10th Bipartite Agreement.
  • Revision of physician consultation charges effective from July 15, 2024.
  • Simplification and improvement of the medical reimbursement scheme.
  • Inclusion of all salary components in pension calculations under the 7th Bipartite Agreement.
  • Permanent resolution of technical problems in the HRMS system.
  • Restoration of employee director representation on SBI’s board.
  • Appointment of employee representatives in the Provident Fund Trust.
  • Stopping pressure-based cross-selling and alleged mis-selling of insurance and mutual fund products.  

    Advisory for SBI Customers

    Customers are advised to:

  • Complete urgent branch transactions before May 23.
  • Use digital banking services wherever possible.
  • Withdraw necessary cash in advance.
  • Confirm local branch holiday schedules, especially for Bakrid.