Banking services across Odisha were disrupted on Friday as employees and officers of public sector banks joined the nationwide strike called by the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU).
Several branches remained closed or operated with limited staff, leaving customers struggling with cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearance, and other branch‑level services. Private sector banks, however, were largely unaffected.
The UFBU, representing nearly 90 per cent of bank officers and employees, is pressing for the implementation of a five‑day workweek and resolution of pending wage and pension issues. The unions argue that all Saturdays should be declared holidays, a demand agreed upon in the 12th Bipartite Settlement with the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) in March 2024 but yet to be formally notified.
Currently, banks remain open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month. Apart from the workweek demand, unions are seeking pension updates, a uniform dearness allowance formula, and the option for NPS employees to shift to the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Despite the strike, customers continued to access digital banking services, including UPI, internet banking, and mobile banking, which remained fully operational.
