A two-page “Gazette of India” notice claiming that nine public-sector banks are being merged into SBI, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda has travelled quickly across social media. The document looks official, carries a September 15, 2026 date, and even cites banking laws.
But the claim is false. PIB Fact Check said on September 16 that the document was fake and had not been issued by the Ministry of Finance. That means customers do not need to treat the circulated gazette as a government merger order.
What Did the Viral Gazette Claim?
The fake notice was presented as an “Extraordinary Gazette” from the Department of Financial Services. According to reports examining the document, it used the title “Amalgamation of Public Sector Banks Scheme, 2026” and carried references designed to resemble a formal government notification.
The document claimed that nine public-sector banks would be regrouped in three blocks:
- Indian Bank, Bank of Maharashtra and Central Bank of India would move into State Bank of India, creating an “SBI Group”.
- Union Bank of India, Bank of India and Punjab & Sind Bank would be merged into Punjab National Bank.
- Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and UCO Bank would be transferred to Bank of Baroda.
It also claimed that customer accounts, employees, assets, liabilities and banking arrangements would continue under the acquiring banks. Those details made the document look more convincing, but they did not make it genuine. Moneycontrol’s examination of the fake gazette reported that the fabricated notice carried G.S.R. 612(E) and F. No. 10/03/2026-BO.I.
What Did PIB Fact Check Say About the Nine-Bank Merger?
The government’s fact-checking unit gave a direct answer. In its official September 16 post, PIB Fact Check said the circulating document was fake and had not been issued by the Ministry of Finance. It also asked people to verify such claims through official and credible sources before sharing them.
Readers can view the official PIB Fact Check post on X. The same clarification provided channels through which suspicious claims linked to the Government of India can be reported.
This is important because the rumour was not simply a prediction about possible future consolidation. It was presented as an already-notified government order. PIB’s clarification rejects that specific claim.
A similar story appeared only a few months earlier. On June 29, PIB Fact Check rejected a fabricated image claiming that the government had approved a merger of SBI, PNB and Canara Bank. The fact-check said no such proposal involving those three banks had been approved.
What Do Official Records Show About Public-Sector Banks?
The Department of Financial Services’ current PSB list shows 12 public-sector banks, including all nine lenders named in the viral document as separate PSBs. SBI, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda also remain separately listed.
A Lok Sabha reply dated December 1, 2025 stated that, at that time, no proposal for merger or consolidation of PSBs was under government consideration. That answer predates the September 2026 fake gazette, so it should not be read as a permanent policy statement. It does, however, provide official background from before the latest rumour.
The government has continued publishing performance and reform updates for the existing PSB system. In May 2026, the Ministry of Finance reported that 12 PSBs recorded an all-time high net profit of ₹1.98 lakh crore in FY 2025-26, while gross NPAs declined to 1.93%. The August 2026 PSB Confluence later discussed areas including deposits, youth banking, investment support and competitiveness.
What Should Bank Customers Do When a Merger Notice Goes Viral?
Customers should not change accounts, withdraw deposits or take financial decisions because of a forwarded document alone. Genuine announcements involving public-sector banks should be checked against the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, RBI or other official government channels.
For this case, the conclusion is straightforward: the viral September 15 gazette is not an authentic Finance Ministry notification. Anyone receiving it through WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook or X should avoid forwarding it as confirmed news.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Did the government order the merger of nine public-sector banks in September 2026?
PIB Fact Check said the circulated gazette was fake, not an official Finance Ministry document.
2. Which banks were named in the fake merger document?
It named nine PSBs, including Indian Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank, UCO Bank and others.
3. Are SBI, PNB and Bank of Baroda merging with other PSBs now?
The viral document is fake; no merger order matching its claims has been officially issued.
4. How many public-sector banks does the government currently list?
The Department of Financial Services lists twelve public-sector banks on its official banking page today.
5. Where should people verify future public-sector bank merger claims?
Verify Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, RBI and PIB Fact Check before sharing.
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