- RBI’s new decision
- Preparations for 5-day work begin
- New bank timings are likely to be implemented from April 2026
Bank Timings 2026: In the era of the run-of-the-mill Work-life balance has become a major issue, and bank employees are no exception. Bank unions have been demanding a 5-day work week for a long time, and now they have officially presented this demand to the government. According to this proposal, it is recommended to declare Saturday and Sunday as weekly holidays for banks. If this proposal is implemented, the banking sector will be open only from Monday to Friday. Currently, banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. This means that bank employees already follow a 5-day work schedule for two weeks every month.
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As per the submitted proposal, if the 5-day working week is implemented, bank employees will have to change their working hours. Due to shorter working days, employees may have to work about 40 minutes more per day to compensate. According to the All India Bank Officers’ Confederation (AIBOC), this change will boost employee morale, improve productivity and help the banking sector adapt to modern working practices. No major official reason has been given for the delay in approval of the proposal. Earlier, it was believed that the government was not sanctioning it due to shortage of staff, but the government has refuted this claim.
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The government has clarified that public sector banks (PSBs) are responsible for managing their employee needs. According to data submitted by banking associations, 96% of the sanctioned posts in public sector banks were filled by 31 March 2025. The Ministry said that the number of employees will not be a hindrance in approving a 5-day banking week.
Currently, there is no fixed time limit for implementing the 5-day banking week. This proposal is still under consideration. This requires final approval from both the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Until then, the current policy of holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays will continue. Even if the proposal is approved, it is likely to be implemented only in the next financial year, i.e. a decision could come after April 2026.
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