Central Bank of India has launched Bharat Connect for Business, becoming the first public sector bank to partner with NPCI Bharat Bill Pay Ltd (NBBL) on the digital B2B payments platform. The launch took place at Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai on September 10, 2026.

The initiative aims to strengthen India's digital business-to-business payments ecosystem by providing an integrated solution for invoice generation, payment processing, and settlement management. The platform facilitates secure and seamless transactions between buyers, sellers, and their banks.

Platform Features

Bharat Connect for Business offers a comprehensive digital infrastructure designed to simplify financial operations for enterprises. Key capabilities include:

• Generation and management of digital invoices
• Execution of payments and collections
• Automated settlements between parties
• Secure transaction handling between buyers, sellers, and banking partners

Strategic Significance

Kalyan Kumar, MD & CEO of Central Bank of India, and Noopur Chaturvedi, MD & CEO of NBBL, unveiled the platform at the NPCI Pavilion during the fintech festival. The partnership positions the bank as a pioneer among public sector lenders in adopting advanced digital payment solutions.

The move is expected to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by reducing friction in digital transactions. It aligns with the bank's broader strategy to enhance technology-led financial services and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

This disclosure was made in compliance with Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

Central Bank of India has received a strike notice from the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) for industrial action on September 11, September 28-30, and a continuous strike starting October 26, 2026.

The bank disclosed the notice on September 9, 2026, pursuant to Regulation 30 and 51 of SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015. The UFBU comprises seven unions: AIBEA, AIBOC, BEFI, NCBE, AIBOA, INBEF, and INBOC.

Strike schedule and scope

Labor unions have announced a phased series of industrial actions targeting Central Bank of India. The planned strikes span multiple dates across two months, escalating from single-day and multi-day stoppages to an open-ended continuous strike.

The following table outlines the announced strike schedule:

Pattern of escalation

The industrial action follows a clear escalation pattern. The initial one-day strike on September 11 is followed by a three-day stoppage scheduled for September 28-30. The most significant action is the continuous strike announced to commence on October 26, which carries no defined end date based on the available information.

The announcements reflect coordinated union activity, with the continuous strike representing the most disruptive phase of the planned industrial action at Central Bank of India. The bank stated it is taking necessary steps to ensure smooth functioning of branches and offices during the strike days, should they materialize.