Which Banks Are Participating in the February 12 Strike? India was under a nationwide bank strike on February 12, 2026, as part of the broader Bharat Bandh called by all central trade unions and bank employees’ organisations. There was extensive confusion among people regarding bank services and which banks would be impacted by it.
If you are wondering what banks are taking part in the February 12th strike and what it means for day-to-day financial activities.
Background of the February 12 Nationwide Strike
The strike has been called by the major banking employee unions, such as the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA). The All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA) and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI). These banking employee unions represent the vast majority of employees in public sector banks.
The protest is a part of the larger wave of protests and strikes under the central trade unions across the country against some of the labor reforms and policy changes. The bank employees are joining the protest to raise their grievances on issues of job security and several pending demands. Which include the enforcement of the five-day workweek for the public sector banks.
Since union membership is disproportionately high in government-owned banks, the ramifications of the strike are more visible in public banking.
Public Sector Banks Participating in the Strike
Public sector banks (PSBs) are the most affected by the February 12 strike because many of their employees are union members. Several leading government-owned banks issued official communications to stock exchanges, warning customers about possible service disruptions.
1. State Bank of India (SBI)
The State Bank of India, which is the largest public sector financial institution of the country, confirmed the receipt of notification of the strike from bank employees’ unions. The bank told the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) that it is working to keep its branches running normally. But services could be disrupted if many employees join the strike.
Given the extensive network of SBI’s branches throughout the country, both in rural and urban areas. A small scale of employee participation can already impact the processing of cash transaction services and customers.
2. Bank of Baroda
Bank of Baroda has also informed BSE about the strike. The spokesperson said: “We are making efforts to minimize inconvenience, but business operations may be disrupted if a large number of employees participate in the strike.
Customers visiting the counters of Bank of Baroda on February 12 may witness limited counter services. Experience delays in documentation services.
3. Punjab National Bank (PNB)
Punjab National Bank, another major public sector bank, is also among those likely to experience service disruptions. Since many of its employees are affiliated with participating unions, branch-level services could be partially impacted.
4. UCO Bank and Other Government Banks
UCO Bank and several other public lenders have similarly warned about possible operational challenges due to employee participation in the strike. Regional rural banks and smaller government-controlled banks may also experience varying levels of disruption depending on local staff involvement.
In summary, most public sector banks are directly or indirectly affected because unionized staff form a substantial portion of their workforce.
What About Private Sector Banks?
Banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, etc., operating in the private sector, might not be affected much by the strike that is called on February 12.
The reason is simple; the employees of private banks are not members of the big unions that called for the strike. Hence, all branches of private banks are expected to function normally.
However, minor disruptions are impossible to rule out in certain locations. If there are any local protest activities or transport issues arising out of the broader Bharat Bandh.
Are Banks Officially Closed?
It is important to clarify that February 12 was not declared a nationwide bank holiday by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Banks were officially open.
The disruption, therefore, depends not on a formal closure but on employee participation. If a large number of staff members join the strike, certain services at physical branches may be temporarily unavailable or delayed.
Which Services May Be Affected?
The strike primarily affects in-branch operations. Customers may face issues with:
- Cash deposits and withdrawals at branch counters
- Cheque clearing services
- Account opening and KYC updates
- Loan processing and documentation
- Demand draft issuance
However, digital services are expected to function normally. These include:
- Internet banking
- Mobile banking apps
- UPI transactions
- ATM withdrawals
- Online fund transfers
Since these services are largely automated, they are not directly dependent on branch-level staff presence.
Impact on Customers and Businesses
For individual customers, the impact may be limited to inconvenience and delays in branch visits. However, for businesses that rely on daily banking operations such as cheque deposits, bulk transactions, or loan processing. The strike could temporarily disrupt workflow.
Traders and corporate clients may also monitor such strikes closely, as public sector banks play a major role in India’s financial system.
Conclusion
The February 12 nationwide bank strike primarily involves public sector banks such as SBI, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank, and other government-owned institutions due to strong union participation. Private sector banks are largely unaffected.
That is, while the banks were not formally closed, the activities of the participants at the branches of the banks may have been partially affected, depending on the turnout of the staff. The electronic banking channels were, however, fully operational.
For information purposes, it’s important to note that customers are always advised to contact their local branch before making a visit, especially during strike announcements, and to use online banking where possible.
