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  Nationwide Bank Strike 2026: Why Your Local Branch is Closed Today and How It Affects You By : Vijesh Nair Investigation journalism New Delhi | January 28, 2026 If you were planning to head to your local bank branch this morning to deposit cash or clear a pending cheque, you might want to check the shutters first. Bank unions across India are observing a nationwide strike to demand a long-overdue five-day workweek, disrupting operations across various sectors and leaving millions of customers in the lurch. The strike, called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) —an umbrella body representing nine major unions including the AIBEA and NCBE —comes after years of stalled negotiations with the government. While digital banking remains a lifeline, the physical "brick-and-mortar" banking experience is currently at a standstill in most parts of the country. The Core Demand: Why Are Bankers Striking? The heartbeat of this protest is a single, persistent demand: The implem...