Bank strike will affect financial predictability, business continuity, say trade bodies

Business bodies in Bengaluru say the industry needs predictability and continuity, especially at a time when cash flow and financial settlement are critical.

Mini Tejaswi

While the State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday issued an advisory urging customers to complete all important transactions ahead of the three-day nationwide bank strike from September 28, trade bodies in Bengaluru said the industry needs predictability and continuity, especially at a time when cash flow and financial settlement are critical.

The SBI customer advisory was issued in view of the proposed nationwide bank strike by the United Forum of Banking Unions (UFBU) from September 28 to 30. The UFBU, which claims to represent 90% of bank employees, is demanding a five-day banking week, among other things.

The proposed strike, which comes immediately after the weekend, could effectively lead to prolonged disruption of banking services during the critical month-and-a-half-year-end period, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) said.

“This will especially impact SMEs and businesses that depend on timely payments, collections, payment of wages, statutory payments and working capital transactions,” said Uma Reddy, President, FKCCI. Small, medium and micro businesses, like traders, require financial predictability and business continuity, especially when cash flow and financial settlement are critical, she said.

While the FKCCI respects the concerns of the bank employees, the union body called on all stakeholders to continue dialogue and arrive at an amicable solution in the greater interest of businesses and the economy.

“We welcome the decision to keep public sector and regional rural banks open on Sunday 27 September, but appeal for uninterrupted banking services during this crucial period,” she said.

Responding to a query, K. Ravi, president of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), said that though it was called a three-day bank strike, its practical impact could extend to five days. “Businesses may face interest and penalties for late payments, while exporters may face delays in bank guarantees

SMEs may face limited access to cash, and suspended clearing operations could cause a backlog of high-value settlements, especially around the September 30 half-year cut-off, Mr. Ravi further said.

Published – 24 Sep 2026 23:33 IST