Jammu, August 12: Bank employees and officers held demonstrations across the country on Wednesday demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day banking week, as part of a nationwide call issued by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
In Jammu, bank employees staged a demonstration at Bahu Plaza after office hours, raising slogans in support of the long-pending demand. Similar protests were organised in state capitals, major towns and important banking centres across the country.
The demonstrations followed the nationwide bank strike observed on January 27, 2026, over the same issue.
Addressing the gathering, Rajesh Mehta said the demand for a five-day banking week was neither new nor unreasonable, noting that the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had already agreed to the proposal in the Memorandum of Understanding, as well as in the Settlement/Joint Note, and had recommended it to the government.
“It is therefore difficult to understand why a settled issue continues to remain pending for Government approval,” he said.
Mehta said bank employees had consistently supported the country during financial crises, demonetisation, the COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of government schemes and other major economic initiatives.
“Five-day banking is now a question of fairness, dignity of labour and a modern working environment. We urge the Government to honour the commitment without any further delay,” he said.
The protesters argued that the banking sector has undergone significant technological transformation and is no longer dependent solely on physical branch operations. ATMs, mobile banking, internet banking and electronic payment systems provide customers access to banking services around the clock, they said.
The employees maintained that five-day banking could therefore be introduced without compromising customer convenience or operational efficiency.
They also cautioned that continued delay in implementing an issue that has already been negotiated through the established collective bargaining process was creating growing resentment among bank employees and officers.
The UFBU has indicated that its constituent unions would meet to decide the further course of action, including possible strike action, if the demand remains unresolved.
The demonstration was attended by representatives including Rakesh from Punjab National Bank, Puneet from Canara Bank and Naresh from Bank of Baroda, besides a large number of employees and officers from various banks.
The gathering unanimously appealed to the Government of India to approve the declaration of all Saturdays as holidays in the banking industry and implement the Five-Day Banking Week without further delay.
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