State Bank of India has announced a temporary waiver of ATM transaction charges for its customers during the three-day bank strike scheduled from September 28 to 30, providing relief to account holders who may need access to cash while branch operations are affected.
Under the arrangement, SBI customers will be able to withdraw cash from ATMs, including those operated by other banks, without paying additional transaction charges during the strike period. The waiver will also cover transactions that would ordinarily attract charges after the customer’s monthly free ATM transaction limit has been exhausted.
The move comes after several banking unions called for a three-day strike, raising concerns about disruption to conventional banking services. With branches potentially remaining closed or operating with limited services, customers have been advised to make arrangements for branch-dependent transactions in advance.
SBI has also indicated that its major digital banking services will continue to function normally during the strike period. Customers will be able to use Unified Payments Interface (UPI), internet banking, mobile banking and the YONO application for routine digital transactions.
However, services requiring physical access to branches could face disruption. Customers who need to deposit cheques, obtain demand drafts or complete certain loan-related formalities have therefore been advised to complete those tasks before the strike begins.
The temporary ATM charge waiver is aimed at ensuring customers can continue accessing cash without additional financial burden during the disruption. The announcement also highlights the growing role of digital banking services in maintaining access to essential financial transactions when physical branches are unavailable.
