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If you are planning a visit to the bank this week, it would be wise to complete essential work before February 12. Several major banks, including State Bank of India (SBI) and IDBI Bank, may see disruptions as bank employee unions have announced a nationwide strike on this date. Although banks will remain officially open, services at branches could be slow or partially unavailable due to staff participation in the protest.

According to reports from news agencies, leading public sector banks have already received formal strike notices from employee unions. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has not declared February 12 as a bank holiday, which means branches are expected to function. However, with a large number of employees likely to stay away from work, customers may face delays in routine banking operations.

During the strike, counter-based services are expected to bear the maximum impact. Activities such as cash deposits and withdrawals, cheque clearance, passbook updates, and document-related requests may take longer than usual. Banks have indicated that while they will try to ensure minimum operations, full-scale services may not be possible.

Customers who have urgent requirements—such as submitting documents, withdrawing large amounts of cash, or resolving branch-level issues—are advised to plan ahead and visit their bank before the strike date.

The primary reason behind the nationwide protest is opposition to the four new labour codes notified by the central government. Major unions, including the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), argue that these new codes will replace nearly 29 existing labour laws and could weaken employee rights.

Union leaders believe the proposed framework will make it harder for trade unions to function effectively. They also fear that managements may get increased freedom to impose decisions on employees without sufficient safeguards. According to the unions, the changes could dilute job security and reduce collective bargaining power.

Apart from labour law concerns, bank employees have been demanding a five-day work week for quite some time. Currently, banks operate on alternate Saturdays, but unions argue that increasing workloads and staff shortages have led to high stress levels among employees.

They believe that a two-day weekly break is essential for maintaining work-life balance and improving productivity. In addition, issues such as unresolved pay disparities and delays in filling vacant positions have further fueled dissatisfaction among bank staff.

Some banks, including Bank of Baroda, have informed stock exchanges that they are making arrangements to minimize inconvenience to customers. However, they have also acknowledged that the strike could impact services like cheque processing and cash-related transactions.

The good news for customers is that digital services are expected to function without interruption. Internet banking, mobile banking apps, UPI payments, and ATM services are likely to remain operational. This should help customers manage routine transactions despite branch-level disruptions.

To avoid inconvenience, customers should:

• Complete urgent banking work before February 12

• Rely on digital payment options where possible

• Avoid non-essential branch visits on the strike day

While the strike aims to highlight employee concerns, its immediate impact will be felt by customers. Planning ahead can help minimize disruptions.