Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Millions of customers of India’s largest public sector bank, State Bank of India, have been advised to complete their banking work in advance as several branches are set to remain closed for six consecutive days.
According to the schedule, SBI branches will be shut from May 23 (Saturday) to May 28 (Thursday), 2026, and normal operations will resume on May 29, 2026 (Friday).
Why SBI branches will remain closed
The six-day closure is due to a combination of weekly offs, a nationwide strike, and festival holidays:
May 23: Fourth Saturday (official bank holiday)
May 24: Sunday (weekly holiday)
May 25–26: Nationwide strike by SBI employees’ union
May 27–28: Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid) holidays in several states
The All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) has announced a two-day nationwide strike on May 25 and 26, citing unresolved demands and alleging that management has been implementing key policy decisions without proper consultation with employees.
Customer advisory
During this extended shutdown period, services such as branch transactions, cheque clearance, and in-person banking will not be available. Customers are advised to rely on digital banking channels for essential services.
