For millions of customers who still rely on branch visits for cash deposits, cheque clearances, locker access and document verification, the last week of May 2026 could turn unexpectedly hectic. The State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public sector bank, may witness branch closures stretching across several days between May 23 and May 28 due to a combination of weekend holidays, a proposed nationwide strike and regional Bakrid holidays.
The development has sparked concern among customers, especially small business owners, pensioners and rural account holders who depend heavily on physical banking services. While digital banking platforms will continue to function, several branch-based services could face disruption during this period.
The possible shutdown window comes at a time when banking activity usually rises toward the month-end, making it important for customers to plan transactions.
Why SBI Branches May Remain Closed for Up to 6 Days?
The extended closure period is not because of a single holiday. Instead, it is the result of three separate events falling back-to-back across the same week.
These include:
- Weekend bank holidays
- A proposed two-day SBI staff strike
- Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid) holidays in several states
Depending on the state and local RBI holiday schedule, some SBI branches may remain shut continuously for up to six days.
SBI Weekend Holidays on May 23 and 24
The closure cycle begins with the regular weekend banking holidays.
May 23, 2026, falls on the fourth Saturday of the month, while May 24 is a Sunday. Under Reserve Bank of India banking rules, banks across India remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays along with all Sundays.
As a result, SBI branches nationwide are expected to remain closed on both days.
However, services like internet banking, mobile banking, UPI payments, ATM withdrawals and cash deposit machines are likely to remain operational.
SBI Strike on May 25 and 26
The bigger disruption may come from the proposed strike announced by the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation.
The federation, which represents SBI workmen employees across the country, has proposed a two-day strike on May 25 and May 26, 2026. The strike has been called over multiple employee-related concerns, including recruitment policies, outsourcing practices and pension-related matters.
One of the key issues raised by the federation is the selection of National Pension System fund managers for SBI employees. According to employee representatives, the current structure creates financial disadvantages and parity concerns when compared to workers in other public sector banks.
The federation has also highlighted concerns related to:
- Outsourcing of jobs
- Career progression policies
- HRMS-related issues
- Staff welfare and workload
- Internal parity matters within SBI
If the strike proceeds as planned, branch operations across several cities could be affected. Services like account opening, cheque processing, passbook updates, demand drafts and in-branch customer support may witness delays.
Customers are advised to avoid last-minute banking work during this period.
Bakrid Holidays May Extend Closures Further
The holiday situation becomes more complicated because of regional Eid-ul-Adha holidays scheduled around the same dates.
According to the RBI holiday calendar, banks in certain states will remain closed for Bakrid celebrations on May 27 and May 28, 2026.
In Jammu and Kashmir, banks are expected to remain shut for two consecutive days during Bakrid observance.
This means customers in some regions may experience nearly a week-long interruption in physical banking access when combined with weekend closures and strike dates.
State-Wise SBI Holiday List for May 2026
The holiday impact will vary from state to state because banking holidays differ according to local festivals and regional observances.
Cities including Bhopal, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Kochi, Lucknow, New Delhi, Raipur, Ranchi, Shimla and Vijayawada are among those expected to observe closures linked to May 27 holidays.
Meanwhile, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Belapur, Jaipur, Nagpur, Panaji and Patna are among cities where May 28 holidays may affect banking operations.
Jammu and Srinagar are expected to witness closures on both May 27 and May 28 due to Bakrid-related holidays.
Kolkata also has additional regional holiday observations during the month, while Gangtok is expected to observe a state-specific holiday on May 16.
The variation in schedules means customers should check local branch notifications or RBI regional holiday lists before planning visits.
What SBI Customers Should Do Before the Closure Period
The extended holiday window is particularly important for people who rely on offline banking.
Customers who may be affected include:
- Senior citizens
- Business owners handling salary payments
- Traders dealing with cheque clearances
- Students requiring bank verification documents
- Customers needing locker access
- Rural account holders with limited digital access
To avoid inconvenience, customers should complete important branch-related work before May 23.
Some essential tasks to finish early include:
- Updating KYC documents
- Depositing or withdrawing large cash amounts
- Clearing cheque-related work
- Collecting demand drafts
- Accessing bank lockers
- Completing loan documentation
- Processing RTGS or NEFT forms requiring branch approval
Digital services are expected to remain active, but heavy transaction traffic could lead to temporary slowdowns during peak hours.
Will Online SBI Services Continue During the Holiday Period?
Yes. SBI’s digital ecosystem is expected to continue functioning even if physical branches remain closed.
Customers can still use:
- YONO SBI
- Internet banking
- UPI payments
- ATM services
- Mobile banking
- Cash deposit kiosks
Routine digital transactions such as fund transfers, bill payments and online shopping payments are unlikely to be affected.
However, services requiring manual processing or branch authorisation could face delays until branches reopen fully.
The SBI bank holiday alert for May 23-28, 2026, is more than just another banking update. With weekend closures, a proposed two-day strike and Bakrid holidays overlapping in several states, many SBI branches may remain inaccessible for an extended period.
Customers who depend on physical banking services should complete important branch-related work early and rely on digital banking wherever possible. While online services are expected to continue smoothly, branch visits could become difficult during this period, depending on regional holiday schedules.
For millions of SBI customers across India, a little planning before May 23 could prevent a major banking headache later in the week.
