Banks close on federal holidays declared by the U.S. government, and the list changes slightly each year
A bank holiday is any day when banks are legally closed and do not process transactions. Most bank holidays line up with federal holidays — days the government recognizes and most federal employees do not work. When a federal holiday falls on a weekday, banks close. When it falls on a weekend, banks typically close on the nearest weekday instead.
The federal government declares which days are bank holidays each year. The list is the same across all states, though some states add their own holidays on top of the federal ones. Your bank will not process deposits, withdrawals, transfers, or loan payments on a bank holiday, even if you use an ATM or mobile app for some of those tasks.
The reason matters if you are waiting for money: a deposit made on a bank holiday will not clear until the next business day. A check deposited on Friday before a Monday holiday will not post until Tuesday. Wire transfers sent on a holiday will not arrive until the next day the bank is open.
Key Takeaways
- Banks close on all federal holidays, which means no deposits post, no transfers process, and no checks clear on those days.
- When a federal holiday falls on a weekend, banks close on the nearest weekday — usually Friday if the holiday is on Saturday, or Monday if it is on Sunday.
- Money you deposit or transfer on a bank holiday will not move until the next business day, so timing matters if you need funds by a specific date.
- ATMs and mobile apps may let you initiate transactions on a holiday, but the bank will not actually process them until the next business day.
- Some states observe additional holidays beyond the federal list, so your bank may close on days other banks in different states do not.
The federal holidays when all banks close
The U.S. government recognizes ten permanent federal holidays. Banks close on all of them:
| Holiday | Typical Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Third Monday in January |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) | Third Monday in February |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| Columbus Day | Second Monday in October |
| Veterans Day | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
When any of these dates fall on a Saturday, most banks close on Friday instead. When one falls on a Sunday, banks close on Monday. For example, if Independence Day lands on a Saturday, your bank will be closed on Friday, July 3. If Christmas falls on a Sunday, your bank will be closed on Monday, December 26.
Some years the government declares an additional holiday — this is rare and announced in advance. The Federal Reserve publishes the complete list each year on its website, and your bank will post its holiday schedule on its website or in your branch.
How bank holidays affect deposits and transfers
Any money you deposit on a bank holiday will not clear until the next business day. This includes checks, cash, and mobile deposits. If you deposit a check on a Friday before a three-day weekend, the check will not post until Tuesday. The bank's system is closed, so no processing happens at all.
Wire transfers sent on a bank holiday will not leave your account until the next business day, and they will not arrive at the receiving bank until the day after that. If you send a wire on Friday before a Monday holiday, it will not actually transfer until Tuesday, and the recipient may not see it until Wednesday.
ACH transfers — the electronic transfers used for bill payments and payroll — also pause on bank holidays. If you schedule an ACH payment to post on a bank holiday, it will post the next business day instead. This matters if you are trying to pay a bill by a specific date: scheduling a payment for a holiday will delay it by at least one day.
ATMs and mobile apps may let you start a transaction on a bank holiday, but the bank will not actually process it until the next business day. The transaction will appear as pending in your app, but the money will not move until the bank reopens.
State holidays that may close your bank
Some states observe additional holidays beyond the ten federal ones. If your bank is headquartered in a state that recognizes a state holiday, the bank may close on that day even if banks in other states stay open.
For example, some Southern states observe Confederate Memorial Day, and banks in those states may close on that day. Texas observes Lyndon B. Johnson Day. Hawaii observes Prince Kuhio Day. If your bank is based in one of these states, it will close on the state holiday, but a bank based in another state will not.
The safest approach is to check your bank's website or call your branch before a day you think might be a holiday. Your bank will list all the days it will be closed, including both federal and state holidays. You can also look at your bank's holiday schedule in your online banking portal or mobile app.
What to do if you need money on a bank holiday
If you need cash on a bank holiday, use an ATM. ATMs operate 24 hours on bank holidays, and you can withdraw money anytime. The withdrawal will post to your account immediately, even though the bank itself is closed.
If you need to make a payment and the bank is closed, check whether the recipient will accept a payment on the holiday. Many businesses, utilities, and government agencies process payments on bank holidays even if banks do not. You can often pay online or by phone without waiting for the bank to reopen.
If you are expecting a deposit — such as a paycheck or tax refund — and it is scheduled to arrive on a bank holiday, it will post the next business day instead. Payroll deposits are usually scheduled to post on a specific date, so if that date is a bank holiday, the money arrives the next day. Tax refunds follow the same rule: if your refund is scheduled to arrive on a holiday, it will arrive on the next business day.
Plan ahead if you know you will need money around a holiday. Deposit checks or transfer funds a day or two before the holiday so the money clears in time. If you are waiting for a refund or paycheck, assume it will arrive one day later than usual if the deposit date falls on a bank holiday.
How to find your bank's holiday schedule
Your bank publishes its holiday schedule online. Log into your online banking portal or mobile app and look for a link labeled "Holiday Schedule," "Bank Hours," or "Closures." Most banks also post the schedule on their website homepage or in the FAQ section.
You can also call your bank's customer service line or visit a branch in person to ask which days the bank will be closed. The schedule is the same for all branches of the same bank, so you do not need to call your specific branch.
The Federal Reserve also publishes a list of federal holidays each year on its website. If you want to know the official federal holidays before checking your bank's schedule, you can look there. Your bank will close on all federal holidays plus any state holidays it observes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my paycheck deposit on a bank holiday?
No. If your employer schedules payroll to deposit on a bank holiday, the deposit will post the next business day instead. If payday falls on a Friday before a Monday holiday, your paycheck will arrive on Tuesday. Contact your employer's payroll department if you are unsure when your next deposit will arrive.
Can I use my debit card on a bank holiday?
Yes. You can use your debit card to make purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs on a bank holiday. The bank is closed, but the card network is open. Purchases will post to your account the next business day, and ATM withdrawals post immediately.
Do credit unions close on bank holidays?
Most credit unions close on federal holidays, but not all. Some credit unions stay open on certain holidays or have different schedules than banks. Check your credit union's website or call to confirm which days it will be closed.
What if I need to deposit a check before a three-day weekend?
Deposit the check on Friday or earlier in the week. Any check deposited on Friday will post by Tuesday at the latest, even if Monday is a bank holiday. If you deposit on Friday evening using mobile deposit, the check will post Tuesday morning.
Does a bank holiday delay my tax refund?
Only if the refund is scheduled to arrive on the holiday itself. The IRS schedules refunds to post on specific dates. If your refund date falls on a bank holiday, it will post the next business day. You can check your refund status on the IRS website to see the exact deposit date.