New Delhi: State Bank of India branches across the country will remain open and provide regular services on May 25–26 following the deferral of a two‑day strike by the All‑India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF).
SBI issued a customer advisory confirming that all branches would remain open and continue to provide regular services during the two days. “This is to advise our esteemed customers that the proposed strike by the All‑India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) on 25th and 26th May 2026 has been deferred. All our branches will function normally and provide all regular banking services,” the bank said in a statement.
The announcement follows widespread concern that the planned agitation would disrupt branch operations when banks reopened after the weekend. Before the strike was called off, SBI had urged account holders to turn to alternate channels — ATMs, internet banking, YONO, mobile banking and UPI — if branch services were affected.
Union Cites Long‑Standing Issues
The employee federation had called the strike to press several unresolved grievances, citing staffing shortfalls, outsourcing practices, and issued related to pension and wages.
The federation presented a 16‑point demand list to management — hire messengers and armed guards, fill vacant branch posts, stop outsourcing permanent roles, allow more flexibility under the National Pension System (NPS), and granting inter‑circle transfers for staff recruited after 2019.
The federation pressed for changes to the career progression framework, arguing employees are under increasing pressure as head counts shrink. It also raised alarms about branch security, alleging a shortage of armed guards had created safety risks at several locations.
The union said wage hikes for officers and workmen remained unequal despite industry‑level settlements. To press its demands, the federation had planned nationwide demonstrations, sit‑ins, social‑media campaigns and formal representations to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Talks between SBI management and employee representatives ended the agitation and branches will operate normally on May 25–26.
