Friday is a bank holiday only if it falls on one of the federal holidays the U.S. government recognizes

A Friday is not automatically a bank holiday. Banks close on specific dates each year — not because of the day of the week, but because of the holiday itself. If a federal holiday lands on a Friday, then yes, that Friday is a bank holiday and most banks will be closed. If the Friday you're asking about is not one of those dates, the banks will be open.

The federal holidays that can fall on a Friday are the same ones that can fall on any other day: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Some of these move around the calendar each year; others fall on the same date.

If a holiday falls on a Saturday, most banks observe it on the Friday before. If it falls on a Sunday, they observe it on the Monday after. This means a Friday can be a bank holiday either because the holiday itself is on Friday, or because the bank is observing a holiday that fell on Sunday.

Key Takeaways

  • Banks close on federal holidays, which happen on specific dates — not because of the day of the week, but because of which holiday it is.
  • If a federal holiday falls on a Friday, that Friday is a bank holiday and banks will be closed.
  • When a holiday falls on Saturday, banks usually observe it on Friday instead; when it falls on Sunday, they observe it on Monday.
  • You can check your bank's website or call ahead to confirm whether a specific Friday is a bank holiday, since some banks may have different local observances.
  • The federal holidays that can land on Friday are New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Which Fridays are bank holidays in 2024 and 2025

In 2024, the Fridays that are bank holidays are: January 1 (New Year's Day, which falls on Monday but banks may have observed it Friday if your bank follows that rule), July 5 (observed for Independence Day, which falls on Thursday), and November 29 (observed for Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday). December 25 (Christmas) falls on a Wednesday in 2024.

In 2025, the Fridays that are bank holidays are: January 17 (MLK Day), February 21 (Presidents' Day), May 23 (observed for Memorial Day, which falls on Monday), July 4 (Independence Day), September 1 (Labor Day), November 28 (Thanksgiving), and December 26 (observed for Christmas, which falls on Friday).

The exact Friday dates depend on which holiday falls on which day of the week that year. The best way to know for certain is to check your own bank's holiday schedule on their website or call their customer service line, since some regional banks or credit unions may observe holidays differently.

How to learn about your bank is closed on a specific Friday

Most banks publish their holiday schedule on their website, usually under a section called "Hours" or "Holiday Hours." You can also call your bank's main customer service number and ask directly. If you need to know right away, many banks have an automated message that tells you whether they are open or closed that day.

If you use an online bank or credit union, check their website for their holiday schedule. Some online banks stay open on federal holidays, though you may not be able to reach a person by phone. If you need to deposit a check or withdraw cash on a day you think might be a holiday, it's worth confirming the night before.

If you're planning a transaction for a specific Friday and you're not sure whether it's a bank holiday, the safest approach is to do it the Thursday before or the Monday after. That way you avoid any surprise closures.

What happens if you try to use your bank on a holiday Friday

If you try to use an ATM on a bank holiday Friday, the machine will usually work — ATMs run 24/7 regardless of holidays. If you try to deposit a check at an ATM, it will process, but the bank won't clear it until the next business day after the holiday.

If you go to a bank branch on a holiday Friday, the doors will be locked and no one will be there. If you call customer service, you may reach an automated system or a representative at a call center, depending on the bank. Online banking platforms work on holidays, so you can transfer money between your own accounts or pay bills online even if the branch is closed.

Checks you deposit on a holiday Friday won't clear until at least the following Tuesday, since the bank is closed Friday and the weekend follows. If you need the money urgently, deposit it on Thursday instead.

The difference between federal bank holidays and state or local holidays

Federal bank holidays are the ones that apply to all banks nationwide. State and local holidays do not close banks. For example, some states observe Confederate Memorial Day or Cesar Chavez Day, but banks do not close for these. Banks close only for the 11 federal holidays (or 12 if you count Juneteenth separately from the others).

Some banks may close for additional days for internal reasons — like inventory or system maintenance — but these are not holidays and are announced in advance. If your bank closes on a Friday that is not a federal holiday, call and ask why.

Why banks close on different Fridays each year

Some federal holidays fall on the same date every year (like Christmas on December 25), but others move around because they are tied to a specific day of the week. For example, Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May, so it can fall anywhere from May 25 to May 31. When Memorial Day falls on a Monday, banks close on Monday. When it falls on a different day, banks observe it on the nearest weekday.

MLK Day, Presidents' Day, and Labor Day follow the same pattern — they're tied to a specific Monday, so they always fall on a Monday. But Independence Day (July 4) and Christmas (December 25) fall on the same date every year, which means they land on different days of the week each year. When July 4 is a Friday, that Friday is a bank holiday. When it's a Saturday, banks close on Friday instead.

This is why you can't just remember "the second Friday in February is Presidents' Day" — you have to check the actual date each year, or look at your bank's published schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I withdraw money from an ATM on a bank holiday Friday?

Yes. ATMs work 24/7, including on bank holidays. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts. However, any deposits you make at an ATM on a holiday Friday won't be processed until the next business day after the holiday ends.

Do all banks close on the same Fridays?

Most banks close on the same federal holidays, but some regional banks or credit unions may have different schedules. A few banks stay open on certain holidays. Check your specific bank's website or call them to confirm.

If a holiday falls on Saturday, is Friday a bank holiday?

Usually yes. When a federal holiday falls on Saturday, most banks observe it on Friday instead. So that Friday becomes a bank holiday. When a holiday falls on Sunday, banks typically observe it on Monday.

What if I need to deposit a check on a bank holiday Friday?

Use an ATM if your bank has one. The check will be deposited, but it won't clear until the next business day after the holiday. If you need the money to clear faster, deposit it on Thursday instead.

Are online banks closed on bank holiday Fridays?

Online banking platforms work on holidays, so you can transfer money and pay bills anytime. However, you may not be able to reach a person by phone, and any transactions may not process until the next business day.