State Bank of India will remove ATM transaction charges from September 28 to September 30 as bank unions plan a three-day national strike. Customers are advised to use digital platforms like YONO, while bank branches will remain open on September 27 to assist with urgent physical paperwork.
State Bank of India (SBI) has announced that it will waive all ATM transaction fees for its customers between September 28 and September 30, 2026. This decision comes as the United Forum of Bank Unions prepares for a three-day nationwide strike during the same period. The strike, which is expected to disrupt operations at many public sector and regional rural banks, follows unresolved discussions regarding the demand for a five-day work week for bank staff.
The waiver is designed to help customers manage their cash needs without extra costs if they are forced to use ATMs outside of their home bank network or if they exceed their regular monthly transaction limits during the disruption. By removing these barriers, the bank aims to reduce the pressure on its physical branches and provide some relief to account holders who rely on physical cash.
To help customers avoid the impact of the strike, branches are scheduled to operate on September 27, which is a Sunday. This serves as an extra day for people to complete important tasks that require physical interaction, such as submitting documents, accessing lockers, or resolving complex account queries. After this day, customers may face limited access to branch-based services until the strike concludes.
While the strike may affect counter-based services, digital banking remains a critical alternative for routine financial management. The bank has confirmed that its digital ecosystem, including the YONO app, internet banking, and mobile applications, will function as normal. These tools allow for instant fund transfers, bill payments, and merchant transactions through platforms like the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) or standard electronic protocols like NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS.
For investors, the event highlights the operational challenges that public sector banks face when industrial action occurs. However, the consistent performance of digital infrastructure is a key aspect of how large lenders now manage service continuity during such events. Moving forward, the effectiveness of these digital platforms in maintaining service levels and customer satisfaction during the strike period will be an important factor to monitor.