PIB debunks fake notification claiming 5-day week for public sector banks

A fabricated government notification circulating widely across social media platforms has been officially discredited, putting an end to widespread speculation over an immediate transition to a five-day working week for public sector lenders. The Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check unit confirmed that the Ministry of Finance never approved or published any such policy shift, leaving branch holiday schedules entirely unchanged for millions of retail customers, business owners, and corporate finance professionals.

The forged document surfaced online, appearing as an official publication from the Department of Financial Services under the Ministry of Finance. According to GujaratSamachar English, the notice carried a specific notification number alongside the date of Friday, 30 September 2026. It purported to exercise powers under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, asserting that every Saturday would become an official public holiday for institutions like the State Bank of India with immediate effect. Additional verification efforts detailed by Factly revealed through OpenAI content detection tools that the viral image was fabricated using artificial intelligence technology, cleanly matching neither the styling nor the registries of the government’s e-Gazette portal.

Media additions

Government authorities moved quickly to dispel the rumors. In a public statement issued via social media on Thursday, 1 October 2026, PIB Fact Check stated that no such order had been authorized or released. Similar warnings were echoed by regional reporting outlets including Thebengalurulive and NewsMeter, emphasizing that branch operations must continue adhering to established guidelines rather than unverified digital files.

For everyday account holders and commercial entities, the rules governing branch availability remain strictly bound to historical policy. As outlined by TaxCorp AI, the operative framework stems from a 2015 Ministry of Finance notification issued under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Under this standing directive, scheduled and non-scheduled lenders observe closures exclusively on specific weekends of each month.

The timing of the fabricated notice coincided with intense negotiations between labor representatives and management regarding long-term structural changes. As reported by Free Press Journal and Lokmat Times, the United Forum of Bank Unions had previously planned widespread industrial action, including a nationwide strike over multiple days, to demand a complete five-day workweek alongside pension adjustments and wage resolutions. That planned disruption was averted after eleventh-hour discussions with the Indian Banks' Association yielded an agreement to defer the walkout while talks continue.

The Indian Banks' Association has constituted a high-level committee to review the five-day workweek proposal, appointing Bank of India managing director and chief executive Rajneesh Karnatak as chairman and Punjab National Bank managing director and chief executive Ashok Chandra as alternate chairman, alongside representatives from multiple other lending institutions. However, industry analysts stress that forming a dialogue committee is distinct from enacting formal policy changes. Any transition toward universal Saturday closures requires direct government intervention, formal statutory amendments, and subsequent official notification.

Authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution when encountering administrative documents online. Consumers seeking verification on branch schedules are advised to consult official banking portals or check direct updates provided by regulatory bodies. Anyone encountering suspicious administrative claims can report them directly to the PIB Fact Check unit via email at [email protected] or through designated messaging channels.