IDBI Bank has advised customers to complete important transactions in advance and make alternative cash arrangements as employees and officers prepare for a two-day nationwide strike on November 2 and 3. The strike protests the proposed privatisation of the lender, with employees opposing the government's plan to sell a 60.72% stake to Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings. In a customer advisory, the bank stated it would endeavour to maintain normal banking operations but cautioned that the proposed strike may cause inconvenience to patrons.

Customers have been directed to use ATMs, banking correspondent services, customer service points, and Sameep outlets for their banking needs during the strike period. Digital banking services, including internet banking, the Go Mobile+ application, and UPI, will remain operational. The bank also announced that customers needing cash can withdraw money from other banks' ATMs without any charges on November 2 and 3. These measures aim to mitigate disruption while the employee organisations, including the United Forum of Bank Unions, express solidarity with the agitation.

The strike has been called by IDBI Bank employees and officers opposing the government's proposed sale of a 60.72% stake in the bank. Fairfax will be the strategic buyer of the government's 30.48% stake, valued at about 26,620 crore rupees, and the 30.24% stake held by LIC, valued at about 26,440 crore rupees. The United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella body of nine bank employee organisations, has extended support to the IDBI Bank employees' agitation. In a circular dated October 31, UFBU called on its members to wear badges on November 2 in solidarity with IDBI Bank employees and officers.

The unions said the proposed sale would result in the bank, currently predominantly owned by the government and LIC, becoming a foreign-controlled lender. They also cited the assurance given by the then Finance Minister Jaswant Singh in Parliament in December 2003 that the government would retain at least 51% controlling stake in IDBI. Today, this solemn assurance is thrown to the wind, the forum said. From UFBU we have already expressed our support to their struggle. As a solidarity programme, on the day of their strike, on 2-11-2026, we call upon all our members to observe Badge Wearing programme.

The strategic transaction of IDBI Bank is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year, subject to regulatory clearance from the Reserve Bank of India. IDBI Bank customers are advised to complete important banking transactions in advance and make alternative arrangements for cash requirements during the strike period. The two-day strike on November 2 and 3 may cause disruption in branch banking services, but digital channels will remain functional to ensure continuity of banking operations for customers.