How to learn about today is a bank holiday
The fastest way is to check your bank's website or call the number on the back of your card. Banks post their holiday schedules on their main pages, usually under "Hours" or "Holiday Schedule." If your bank is closed today, you'll see it listed there. You can also text your bank or use their mobile app — most apps show branch hours and holiday closures in real time.
If you need to know right now and can't reach your bank, the Federal Reserve publishes the official federal holiday calendar each year. Federal holidays are the same across all U.S. banks, though some banks may observe additional holidays or observe them on different dates if the holiday falls on a weekend.
For a quick answer without logging in anywhere: federal holidays in 2024 and 2025 are 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. If today matches one of those dates, most banks are closed.
Key Takeaways
- Your bank's website or mobile app shows whether branches are open today and lists all upcoming holiday closures.
- Federal holidays are the same across all banks, but some banks observe additional holidays or shift the observance if the holiday falls on a weekend.
- If a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, banks typically close on Friday; if it falls on a Sunday, they close on Monday.
- ATMs and online banking usually work on bank holidays even when branches are closed, so you can still move money or check balances.
- Checks deposited on a bank holiday may not clear until the next business day, even if you deposit them through an ATM.
Why bank closures matter for your money
When your bank is closed on a holiday, you cannot visit a branch, speak to a teller, or get a cashier's check. Wire transfers, loan applications, and account changes that require a person to process them will wait until the next business day. If you need cash, ATMs still work — but if you need to deposit a check or handle something that requires staff, you're waiting.
The bigger issue is timing. If you deposit a check on a holiday, the bank's processing clock doesn't start until the next business day. A check deposited on a Friday holiday may not clear until Wednesday or Thursday, not Monday. This matters if you're counting on that money to cover a bill or transfer.
Online banking and bill pay usually process normally on holidays — the bank's systems run 24/7. But if your bill payment is set to go out "today" and today is a holiday, it may process on the next business day instead. Check your bank's rules about holiday processing before you rely on same-day payment.
Which holidays close banks and which don't
The Federal Reserve recognizes ten federal holidays when banks must close: New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas (December 25).
Some banks also close on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), though it is not a federal holiday. A few banks observe additional holidays based on their location or history. Regional banks in certain states may close for state holidays that federal banks do not observe.
If a federal holiday lands on a Saturday, banks close on Friday. If it lands on a Sunday, banks close on Monday. This shift is automatic — you do not need to check whether the holiday "moved." The bank's calendar already accounts for it.
What you can and cannot do on a bank holiday
| Action | Bank Holiday | Regular Day |
|---|---|---|
| Visit a branch | No | Yes |
| Use an ATM | Yes | Yes |
| Check your balance online | Yes | Yes |
| Transfer money between accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit a check via ATM | Yes (but clears next business day) | Yes |
| Wire money out | No (processes next business day) | Yes |
| Pay a bill online | Yes (but may process next business day) | Yes |
| Speak to a banker | No | Yes |
ATMs work around the clock on holidays — your bank's machines do not close. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts. Deposits made at an ATM on a holiday will be recorded in your account, but the funds will not be available until the next business day.
Online banking and mobile apps work normally. You can pay bills, move money, and check your balance at any hour. The catch is timing: if you schedule a bill payment for "today" and today is a holiday, the payment may not leave your account until tomorrow. Wire transfers initiated on a holiday will not process until the next business day.
How to plan ahead if you need banking services on a holiday
If you know a holiday is coming and you need to deposit a check or move money, do it the business day before. This ensures the transaction processes on time and funds are available when you need them. If you wait until the holiday, you are automatically one business day behind.
For bill payments, schedule them to go out two or three business days before they are due, not the day before. This gives the bank time to process the payment even if a holiday falls in between. If a holiday is tomorrow and you have not paid a bill yet, pay it today online or at an ATM.
If you need cash and the holiday is today, use an ATM. If you need a cashier's check, a loan decision, or help from a banker, you will have to wait until the next business day. Plan accordingly — do not wait until the last minute to handle something that requires a person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all banks close on the same holidays?
Federal holidays are the same across all banks, so most banks close on the same ten days each year. Some regional or smaller banks may observe additional holidays, and a few banks close on Good Friday even though it is not federal. Check your specific bank's holiday calendar to be sure.
Will my paycheck deposit on a bank holiday?
Direct deposits from your employer process on schedule regardless of bank holidays — the deposit hits your account on the regular payday. However, if payday falls on a holiday, your employer may deposit the day before. Check your pay stub or ask your payroll department when deposits will arrive around holidays.
Can I use my debit card on a bank holiday?
Yes. Debit cards work at stores, restaurants, and online merchants on bank holidays. You can also withdraw cash from ATMs. The only thing you cannot do is visit your bank branch or speak to a banker.
What happens if I deposit a check on a bank holiday?
The deposit will be recorded in your account, but the check will not clear until the next business day. If you deposit on a Friday holiday, the check clears on Monday or later, depending on the check's bank. Do not count on the money being available the same day.
Do credit unions close on bank holidays?
Most credit unions follow the same federal holiday schedule as banks, but some observe different holidays or have their own schedules. Check your credit union's website or call to confirm their holiday hours.