Nationwide bank strike tomorrow:Services like cash transactions and cheque clearance likely to be affected

Bank employees across the country will observe a nationwide strike on Wednesday, February 12, which is expected to disrupt regular banking services. Major unions, including the All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), and the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), have jointly called for the strike. The State Bank of India (SBI) has informed its customers that banking operations may be impacted due to employee participation in the strike. IDBI Bank has also received a strike notice from employee unions. Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other banks have not declared a holiday, branch-level operations are likely to be affected. Protest against new labour codes The strike is primarily in protest against the central government’s four new labour codes. According to the unions, these codes will replace 29 existing labour laws, potentially weakening employee rights and making it more difficult to form and register trade unions. In addition, bank employees are reiterating their long-standing demand for a five-day work week. Union leaders argue that rising workload and staff shortages are adversely affecting employees’ work-life balance. Currently, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, but employees are demanding that all Saturdays be declared holidays. How will the strike affect the common public? Branch Services May Be Disrupted: Customers may face difficulties with in-branch services such as cash deposits, issuing new cheque books, KYC updates, and other routine transactions. Delay in Cheque Clearance: Cheque clearing operations are largely handled by public sector banks. Due to the strike, cheque clearance may be delayed by 2–3 days, potentially affecting payments. Possible Cash Shortage in ATMs: With banks remaining closed for three consecutive days, some ATMs—especially in smaller cities and residential areas—may run out of cash. Loans and Government-Related Work: Loan approvals, issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs), and other bank-related documentation may be delayed until Wednesday or Thursday. Which Services Will Continue to Operate? UPI and Digital Payments: Platforms such as Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and BHIM UPI will function normally for payments and online shopping. Internet and Mobile Banking: Online services including IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS fund transfers, balance checks, and bill payments will remain available. Private Banks: Major private banks like HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and Axis Bank will remain open, and services for their customers will continue as usual. ATMs: ATMs are not officially closed. Cash withdrawals will be possible as long as sufficient cash is available in the machines.