Customers planning to visit banks next week may face major inconvenience as several bank branches across India are expected to remain shut due to regional holidays, Bakrid celebrations, and a proposed nationwide strike by employees of State Bank of India. According to the holiday calendar issued by the Reserve Bank of India, banking operations in multiple cities could be disrupted for several consecutive days.
The upcoming week may witness one of the longest stretches of banking interruptions in certain states, especially if the proposed strike by SBI employees goes ahead as scheduled. Financial experts are advising customers to complete important branch-related work in advance to avoid delays in transactions, cheque clearances, cash-related services, or document processing.
Bakrid Holidays to Affect Banking Services in Multiple States
The primary reason for the upcoming bank closures is the festival of Bakrid, also known as Eid-al-Adha. Since moon sightings and local traditions differ from region to region, the bank holidays will vary across states and cities.
As per the RBI holiday schedule, banks in many parts of the country will remain closed on May 28 due to the main Bakrid celebrations. In Jammu and Kashmir, however, banks are expected to remain shut for two consecutive days because of extended local observances.
Bank Holidays Scheduled for Bakrid
- May 27, 2026 (Wednesday): Banks will remain closed in Jammu and Srinagar for the first day of Bakrid observances.
- May 28, 2026 (Thursday): Banks in several major cities and states across India will remain shut due to Eid-al-Adha celebrations.
City-Wise Bank Holiday List for Next Week
According to the RBI’s official banking holiday calendar, the following cities are expected to witness branch closures during the last week of May.
May 26 Holiday List
Banks are likely to remain closed in the following cities due to regional observances linked to Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti and local holidays:
- Agartala
- Ahmedabad
- Aizawl
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Imphal
- Jammu
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- New Delhi
- Raipur
- Ranchi
- Shillong
- Shimla
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Vijayawada
May 27 Holiday List
Banks will remain closed in:
- Jammu
- Srinagar
May 28 Holiday List
Bank branches are expected to remain shut in many major cities, including:
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Lucknow
- Kanpur
- Bhopal
- Patna
- Ranchi
- Chandigarh
- Ahmedabad
- Belapur
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Dehradun
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Imphal
- Jaipur
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Nagpur
- Panaji
- Raipur
- Shimla
- Shillong
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Vijayawada
SBI Strike May Further Disrupt Banking Operations
In addition to the holiday schedule, the All India State Bank Staff Federation has announced a proposed two-day nationwide strike that could affect SBI branch operations across the country.
The strike has reportedly been scheduled for:
- May 25, 2026 (Monday)
- May 26, 2026 (Tuesday)
If the protest proceeds as planned, customers of SBI may experience disruptions in branch services, including cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque processing, loan-related work, and customer support activities.
Why SBI Employees Are Planning a Strike
Employee unions have raised concerns regarding several internal administrative and staffing issues. Their demands reportedly include:
- Delays in fresh recruitment
- Increasing outsourcing of banking work
- Issues related to National Pension System fund management
- Career progression policies
- HRMS-related concerns
While SBI operations may be affected during the proposed strike, private sector banks such as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Punjab National Bank are expected to continue operating normally unless local holidays apply.
How Some States Could See Nearly a Week of Banking Disruptions
In a few regions, the combination of weekends, holidays, and the proposed strike may create a long sequence of branch closures.
Here is how the schedule may unfold:
- May 23: Fourth Saturday holiday
- May 24: Sunday weekly holiday
- May 25: Proposed SBI strike
- May 26: Strike continuation plus regional holiday in several cities
- May 27: Bakrid holiday in Jammu and Srinagar
- May 28: Nationwide Bakrid-related closures in many states
If the strike is not withdrawn, SBI customers in some locations could face banking disruptions for nearly six consecutive days.
However, officials have clarified that the strike is currently proposed and discussions between unions and management are still possible. Customers are advised to confirm branch operations locally before visiting.
Digital Banking Services Will Continue Normally
Despite branch closures, customers will still be able to access most digital banking services without interruption.
Services expected to remain operational include:
- UPI transactions through apps like Google Pay and PhonePe
- Internet banking services
- ATM cash withdrawals and deposits
- IMPS and NEFT fund transfers
- Mobile banking applications
Banking experts suggest customers rely on online services wherever possible during the holiday period to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
The upcoming week serves as a reminder for customers to plan important banking work in advance, especially if they require branch-based services such as demand drafts, document verification, cheque deposits, or large cash transactions.
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