Patna: Bank customers have been advised to complete all important financial work before January 23, as banking services will remain unavailable for several days in the final week of the month. The long closure is expected to cause inconvenience for people who depend on bank branches for daily transactions, document work and cash-related services. Officials say planning in advance will help customers avoid unnecessary trouble.
The disruption will begin on 24 January, which is the fourth Saturday of the month and a regular holiday for banks. This will be followed by Sunday on 25 January, when banks are closed across the country. On 26 January, banks will once again remain shut due to Republic Day, a national holiday observed every year. As a result, three consecutive days will already see no banking services at branch level.
The situation will be further affected on 27 January, when bank employees across India will observe a nationwide strike. The strike has been called by the United Forum of Bank Unions to press for the demand of a five-day working week in the banking sector. According to union leaders, discussions with the Indian Banks’ Association have not led to any solution, forcing employees and officers to take this step.
With banks closed from January 24 to 27 , customers who do not complete their work by January 23 may have to wait until January 28 for branch services to resume. While online and digital banking services may continue to function, many essential tasks still require a visit to the bank. Customers have therefore been urged to withdraw or deposit cash, complete paperwork and settle urgent matters well in advance to avoid difficulties during the extended closure.
