What is the story about?
Bank Strike On Feb 12: The State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday said a nationwide bank strike has been scheduled for February 12, 2026, cautioning customers
that services could be disrupted. “Work may be impacted to a limited extent during the strike,” the country’s largest public sector lender said, reported Reuters. According to the report, IDBI Bank has also received a formal strike notice from bank unions.
Why Has the Strike Been Called?
The strike has been called by leading bank unions as part of a broader nationwide protest by 10 Central Trade Unions. The primary trigger is opposition to the four new labour codes notified by the government in November.
The new labour codes aim to consolidate and replace 29 existing labour laws. However, bank unions argue that the proposed framework weakens workers’ rights and makes it more difficult to register trade unions.
Apart from opposing the labour codes, unions are also pressing for long-pending demands, including:
- Implementation of a five-day work week in banks
- Improved work-life balance
- Safeguards for employee rights and service conditions
Who Is Participating?
Major bank unions have called upon their members to join the strike, including:
- All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA)
- All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA)
- Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI)
These organisations represent a significant section of public sector bank employees and officers across India, raising the possibility of widespread participation.
Will February 12 Be a Bank Holiday?
Despite the strike call, February 12 has not been declared a bank holiday by banks or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Branches are officially expected to remain open.
However, operations could be impacted depending on the extent of employee participation.
What Could Be the Impact?
Bank of Baroda, in a filing to the BSE, said it is taking necessary steps to ensure smooth functioning but cautioned that branch and office operations may be affected if the strike proceeds as planned.
Customers may experience disruptions in:
- Cash transactions at branches
- Cheque clearing services
- Over-the-counter banking services
- Customer assistance at physical branches
Banks have advised customers to plan important transactions in advance to avoid inconvenience.
However, digital banking services, including mobile banking, internet banking and ATM services, are expected to remain largely unaffected.
