President's Day is a federal holiday, but most banks stay open
President's Day falls on the third Monday in February. Federal offices, courts, and the U.S. Postal Service close. Most banks, however, remain open on President's Day — they treat it differently than they do Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Christmas.
The reason is practical: President's Day is not on the Federal Reserve's official list of banking holidays. The Fed publishes a separate calendar from the federal holiday calendar. Banks follow the Fed's list, not the general federal holiday list. This means you can deposit checks, withdraw cash, and conduct regular banking business on President's Day at most branches.
Some banks do close on President's Day, and a few credit unions observe it as a holiday. Your bank's specific policy depends on where you bank and whether it is a national bank, a regional bank, or a credit union. The safest approach is to check your bank's website or call ahead if you need to visit a branch on that day.
Key Takeaways
- Most banks stay open on President's Day because it is not on the Federal Reserve's official banking holiday calendar.
- Federal offices, courts, and the post office close on President's Day, but banking services are usually available.
- Some regional banks and credit unions do close on President's Day, so checking with your specific bank beforehand prevents a wasted trip.
- ATMs and online banking work on President's Day regardless of whether your branch is open.
- If you need to mail a check or visit a federal office on President's Day, plan ahead because those services will be closed.
How President's Day differs from other federal holidays
The Federal Reserve recognizes ten banking holidays each year. President's Day is not one of them. The ten are: New Year's Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Washington's Birthday (February 22, observed as President's Day for federal offices but not for banking), Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas.
Washington's Birthday is the federal holiday name. President's Day is the common name people use, but it is not the official federal designation. This distinction matters because federal offices use the federal holiday calendar, while banks use the banking holiday calendar. The two calendars do not always match.
This is why you might see a federal office closed on President's Day but your bank open. The post office will be closed, but you can still deposit money at your bank's ATM or visit a branch if it is open.
What stays closed and what stays open on President's Day
| Service | Status on President's Day |
|---|---|
| Most bank branches | Open |
| Bank ATMs | Open |
| Online banking | Open |
| U.S. Postal Service | Closed |
| Federal courts | Closed |
| Social Security offices | Closed |
| IRS offices | Closed |
| Stock market | Closed |
| Credit unions (varies) | Usually closed, but check yours |
How to learn about your specific bank is open
The fastest way to know is to visit your bank's website and look for holiday hours. Most banks publish their holiday schedule in December or January. Search for "President's Day hours" on your bank's site, or look for a holiday calendar link.
If you cannot find it online, call your branch directly. Ask the person who answers whether they will be open on President's Day and what hours they will keep. If you bank at a credit union, call them too — credit union policies vary more than bank policies do.
You can also check the Federal Reserve's official banking holiday calendar at federalreserve.gov. If President's Day does not appear on that list, your bank is almost certainly open, though individual branches may have different hours.
What happens to deposits and transfers on President's Day
If you deposit a check at an ATM on President's Day, the deposit will be recorded in your account, but the check will not clear until the next business day. The banking system does not process checks on federal holidays, even if your bank is open. The same applies to wire transfers and ACH transfers — they will be initiated on President's Day but will not move until Tuesday.
If you need money to clear by a specific date, do not count on President's Day as a business day. Deposits made on President's Day will clear on Tuesday at the earliest. If you are waiting for a refund or a payment that depends on timing, plan around the three-day weekend.
Online bill payments scheduled for President's Day will usually process on the next business day. Check your bank's bill pay settings to see how it handles holiday dates.
Planning around President's Day if you need government services
If you need to visit the post office, file something with the IRS, or handle business at a federal courthouse, you cannot do it on President's Day. All three are closed. Plan your mail and document filing for the week before or the week after.
If you are waiting for a tax refund or a government payment, remember that the IRS and Social Security do not process transactions on President's Day. Refunds scheduled to arrive around that time may arrive a day later than expected. Check the status of your refund or payment online — the IRS and Social Security both have tracking tools that work on holidays.
If you need to mail a check to pay taxes or a bill, mail it before President's Day so it arrives and is processed in time. Mail posted on President's Day will not be collected until Tuesday.
Regional and online banking differences
Large national banks like Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo typically stay open on President's Day at most locations. Smaller regional banks are more likely to close. Credit unions close more often on President's Day than banks do.
If you bank online only, President's Day does not affect you. You can transfer money, pay bills, and deposit checks via mobile app or website on President's Day just as you would on any other day. The transactions will process on the next business day, but you can initiate them whenever you want.
If you use a bank that has both physical branches and online services, the branch may be closed while online services remain available. This is the most common scenario for large banks on President's Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my direct deposit arrive on President's Day?
Direct deposits scheduled for President's Day will usually arrive on Tuesday instead, since the banking system does not process ACH transfers on federal holidays. Check with your employer about the exact timing. If your regular payday falls on President's Day, ask whether your paycheck will be deposited on Friday or Tuesday.
Can I use my debit card on President's Day if the bank is closed?
Yes. ATMs work on President's Day regardless of whether the branch is open. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit checks at the ATM. Online banking and debit card purchases work normally too.
Does the stock market close on President's Day?
Yes. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ both close on President's Day. You cannot trade stocks on that day. If you have pending orders, they will execute on Tuesday when the market reopens.
What if I need to cash a check on President's Day?
If your bank is open, you can cash a check at the branch or at an ATM (if your ATM accepts check deposits). If your bank is closed, you can use an ATM to deposit the check, but it will not clear until Tuesday. Some grocery stores and check-cashing services may be open on President's Day if you need cash immediately.
Do I need to do anything special if I have a payment due on President's Day?
If a bill is due on President's Day, pay it a few days early to be safe. Mail takes time, and the post office is closed. If you pay online, submit the payment by the Friday before to ensure it processes on time.