Bank customers, take note! The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has confirmed a nationwide strike on March 24 and 25, as talks with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) failed to resolve key demands. This strike is expected to disrupt banking services across the country, so customers are advised to plan their transactions accordingly.

UFBU, an umbrella body of nine major bank unions, is demanding:

• Withdrawal of recent performance review policies imposed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), which employees believe threaten job security and create divisions.
• End to micro-management of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) by DFS, which they claim is reducing the autonomy of bank boards.
• Five-day work week for banks, similar to other government offices.
• Increased recruitment in all cadres to address staff shortages.
• Amendment of the Gratuity Act to raise the gratuity limit to ₹25 lakh, similar to government employees, and exemption from income tax.

The UFBU consists of several key bank unions, including:

• All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA)
• All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC)
• National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE)
• All India Bank Officers’ Association (AIBOA)
• Confederation of Bank Employees of India (BEFI)

Earlier, AIBOC had threatened a strike on February 24-25, but the matter remained unresolved, leading to the upcoming two-day shutdown.

With banks closed on March 24 and 25, services like cheque clearance, cash deposits, and branch transactions will be unavailable. However, online banking, mobile banking, and ATMs will remain functional.

Bank customers are advised to complete any urgent banking tasks before the strike to avoid inconvenience. Stay tuned for further updates!

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