5 Days Working at a Bank : Bank employees and associations want a much longer 5-day work week. Banks may embrace a 5-day working day arrangement by 2026. This suggestion is now formally being considered by the government. The Finance Ministry told the Lok Sabha on July 28, 2025, that the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) had proposed declaring all Saturdays official bank holidays. This would result in a five-day work week in the financial industry. Banks would be open Monday through Friday, but closed on Saturdays and Sunday.
What is the 5 Days Working at a Bank proposal?
The bank group has advised that banks remain closed on Saturday and Sunday. Employees would be required to work Monday through Friday. To maintain constant weekly hours, employees can work around 40 minutes longer on all five days of the week. According to the union, this will not have an influence on customer service. AIBOC feels that this will increase employee morale and work quality. This will increase the quality of financial services.
What’s happened so far?
The proposal for a five-day workweek gained traction in March of this year, when the IBA and key bank unions signed a joint statement advocating it to the government. In July 2025, the Finance Ministry informed Parliament that the plan was still being considered. Earlier in April 2025, the Ministry stated that the idea was unlikely to be adopted for the fiscal year 2025–26. This modification requires approval from both the Finance Ministry and the RBI, but neither has provided final clearance.
How is the banking system now operating?
Banks are currently operating under regulations enacted in August 2015. According to this, banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. On other Saturdays, banks remain open and function as usual.
Is the delay due to a staff shortage?
The government has stressed that staff shortages are not the cause of the proposal’s postponement.
Responding to a question from Congress MP K.C. Venugopal, the Finance Ministry declared that 96% of public sector bank positions are filled. The remaining vacancies are due to natural retirements and other unregulated factors. However, these are not viewed as a barrier to the idea.
When does the five-day banking week begin?
There is no defined date for implementing this suggestion. The suggestion is being reviewed by the government and the RBI.
