Bank of Baroda has received a rating update from Fitch Ratings, with the international credit rating agency reaffirming the bank's existing ratings while upgrading a key metric that reflects the institution's standalone financial strength.

Rating Affirmation and Upgrade Details

Fitch Ratings has maintained its rating for both Bank of Baroda and its subsidiary Bank of Baroda New Zealand at 'BBB-'. Simultaneously, the rating agency has upgraded the bank's viability rating to 'BB', indicating an improvement in the bank's standalone credit profile.

Significance of the Rating Action

The viability rating represents Fitch's assessment of a bank's intrinsic ability to honor its obligations without external support. The upgrade to 'BB' suggests that Fitch views the bank's fundamental credit strength as having improved, reflecting better operational performance and financial metrics.

The reaffirmation of the 'BBB-' rating for both the parent bank and its New Zealand subsidiary indicates stability in Fitch's overall assessment of the institutions' creditworthiness. This rating level places both entities in the investment grade category according to Fitch's rating scale.

Bank of Baroda has formally notified stock exchanges about a potential strike by banking unions scheduled for February 12, 2026. The notification, issued on February 09, 2026, under SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, alerts investors and stakeholders about possible disruptions to banking operations.

Strike Notice Details

Three major banking unions have served notice for the strike action:

The unions have called for the strike on Thursday, February 12, 2026, citing various issues and demands. The specific details of these demands were not disclosed in the regulatory filing.

Operational Impact Assessment

Bank of Baroda has acknowledged the potential impact on its operations. The bank stated that while it is taking all necessary steps to ensure smooth functioning of branches and offices during the strike day, operations may still be affected if the strike materializes.

The bank's proactive approach includes contingency planning to minimize disruption to customer services. However, customers may experience delays or limited services at branches and offices on the strike date.

Regulatory Compliance

The notification was sent to both major stock exchanges:

Company Secretary S Balakumar signed the regulatory filing, ensuring compliance with SEBI Regulation 30 requirements for material event disclosure. The exchanges have been requested to upload this information on their websites for public access.

Market Implications

This strike notice represents a potential operational challenge for one of India's leading public sector banks. While the bank has assured stakeholders of its preparedness, any disruption to banking services could temporarily impact customer transactions and business operations on the strike date.