Bank Holiday: A viral government-style notification claiming that all public sector banks, including SBI, will remain closed every Saturday has created confusion among customers. However, there has been no official decision to declare every Saturday a bank holiday.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check has confirmed that the notification circulating on social media is fake. The Ministry of Finance has not issued any order declaring every Saturday a public holiday for public sector banks.
The demand for a five-day banking week is being discussed, but the existing Saturday holiday arrangement continues for now.
Will Banks Be Open on Saturday, October 3?
Yes. October 3, 2026, falls on the first Saturday of the month, which is normally a working day for banks.
Under the current arrangement, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. The first, third and fifth Saturdays are generally working days, subject to applicable state-specific holidays and the bank’s holiday calendar. The government reiterated in September that only the second and fourth Saturdays are currently public holidays for public sector banks.
Therefore, customers with pending branch-related work can visit their bank on October 3, subject to any applicable local holiday.
Viral Gazette on Five-Day Banking Week Is Fake
A Gazette notification dated September 30, 2026, has been circulating on social media. The document claims that the Central Government, through the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Financial Services, has declared every Saturday a public holiday for public sector banks, including the State Bank of India.
The PIB Fact Check unit has rejected the claim and confirmed that no such notification has been issued by the Finance Ministry. The document being circulated online is fake and should not be treated as an official government order.
The fake notification has appeared amid the continuing demand from bank employee unions for a five-day working week. The government said in September that five-day banking was one of the principal demands of the unions and that discussions were continuing.
What Is the Status of Five-Day Banking?
There has been no official implementation of a five-day banking week so far. The existing system of second and fourth Saturday holidays remains in place.
The issue has been a long-standing demand of bank employee organisations. In September 2026, the government said it had held discussions with the unions on the matter. The government also noted that the second and fourth Saturdays were declared public holidays for public sector banks in 2015, while the remaining Saturdays continue to provide customers with access to branch banking services.
The recent strike-related developments also brought the five-day banking demand into focus. The government had announced measures to keep public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks operational on Sunday, September 27, 2026, because of the proposed nationwide strike scheduled for September 28-30.
What About ATM, UPI and Net Banking Services?
Even when bank branches are closed, several digital banking services generally remain available to customers.
ATM services, UPI payments through platforms such as PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm, and internet banking can continue to be used outside normal branch working hours. However, certain branch-specific services, including tasks requiring physical documents or staff assistance, may need to wait until the branch reopens.
For customers planning to visit a branch on October 3, the key point is that there is currently no official change making every Saturday a bank holiday.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available from official government and regulatory sources and reports concerning the status of Saturday bank holidays as of October 2, 2026. Bank holidays can vary because of state-specific holidays, local notifications and individual bank calendars. Customers should verify the applicable holiday with their bank or official holiday schedule before visiting a branch.