Banks close on 11 federal holidays each year, plus some state-specific days
U.S. banks shut down on the same 11 federal holidays every year: 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. On these days, bank branches close, ATM deposits may not post until the next business day, and wire transfers do not process. Some states add their own holidays — for example, Texas observes Confederate Heroes Day, and some counties in South Carolina observe additional days — but federal holidays are the ones that stop banking nationwide.
The exact dates shift year to year because federal law says holidays fall on specific weekdays or are observed on the nearest weekday when they land on a weekend. If a holiday falls on Saturday, banks observe it on Friday. If it falls on Sunday, they observe it on Monday. This matters because a refund scheduled to post on a holiday will not arrive until the next business day.
Key Takeaways
- Banks close on 11 federal holidays each year, and deposits or transfers scheduled for those days will not process until the next business day.
- When a holiday falls on a weekend, banks observe it on the nearest weekday — Saturday holidays move to Friday, Sunday holidays move to Monday.
- State and county holidays do not close banks nationwide, so a refund will still post even if your state observes a holiday that federal banks do not.
- Tax refunds, stimulus payments, and insurance refunds scheduled to arrive on a holiday will land in your account on the next business day instead.
The 11 federal holidays that close banks every year
New Year's Day (January 1) marks the start of the calendar year. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January) honors the civil rights leader. Presidents' Day (third Monday in February) recognizes past U.S. presidents. Memorial Day (last Monday in May) honors fallen military service members. Juneteenth (June 19, or the nearest weekday) celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.
Independence Day (July 4) marks American independence. Labor Day (first Monday in September) honors workers. Columbus Day (second Monday in October) marks Columbus's arrival in the Americas. Veterans Day (November 11) honors military veterans. Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November) is a national holiday. Christmas (December 25) is the final federal holiday of the year.
Banks do not process transactions on any of these days. If you are waiting for a refund and the scheduled arrival date falls on one of these holidays, the deposit will post on the next business day instead. This applies to direct deposits, wire transfers, and ACH transfers — all the common ways refunds reach your account.
How weekend holidays affect when your refund arrives
When a federal holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday, banks observe it on the nearest weekday. This rule exists so banks have a consistent day off and so federal employees do not work on weekends. The result is that your refund timeline can shift by a day or two depending on which day of the week the holiday falls.
If a holiday is on Saturday, banks close on Friday instead. If a holiday is on Sunday, banks close on Monday instead. For example, if Independence Day (July 4) falls on a Saturday in a given year, banks will be closed on Friday, July 3. Any refund scheduled to post on Friday will not arrive until Monday. If Independence Day falls on a Sunday, banks close on Monday, July 5, and a refund scheduled for Monday will arrive on Tuesday.
State and county holidays do not affect federal banking. Even if your state observes a holiday that the federal government does not, your bank will still process transactions that day. Only the 11 federal holidays stop banking nationwide.
2024 and 2025 federal holiday dates
| Holiday | 2024 Date | 2025 Date | Bank Closure Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 (Monday) | January 1 (Wednesday) | Monday, January 1, 2024 / Wednesday, January 1, 2025 |
| MLK Jr. Day | January 15 (Monday) | January 20 (Monday) | Monday, January 15, 2024 / Monday, January 20, 2025 |
| Presidents' Day | February 19 (Monday) | February 17 (Monday) | Monday, February 19, 2024 / Monday, February 17, 2025 |
| Memorial Day | May 27 (Monday) | May 26 (Monday) | Monday, May 27, 2024 / Monday, May 26, 2025 |
| Juneteenth | June 19 (Wednesday) | June 19 (Thursday) | Wednesday, June 19, 2024 / Thursday, June 19, 2025 |
| Independence Day | July 4 (Thursday) | July 4 (Friday) | Thursday, July 4, 2024 / Friday, July 4, 2025 |
| Labor Day | September 2 (Monday) | September 1 (Monday) | Monday, September 2, 2024 / Monday, September 1, 2025 |
| Columbus Day | October 14 (Monday) | October 13 (Monday) | Monday, October 14, 2024 / Monday, October 13, 2025 |
| Veterans Day | November 11 (Monday) | November 11 (Tuesday) | Monday, November 11, 2024 / Tuesday, November 11, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving | November 28 (Thursday) | November 27 (Thursday) | Thursday, November 28, 2024 / Thursday, November 27, 2025 |
| Christmas | December 25 (Wednesday) | December 25 (Thursday) | Wednesday, December 25, 2024 / Thursday, December 25, 2025 |
Most federal holidays fall on a Monday because Congress scheduled them that way to create three-day weekends. Juneteenth, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas are the exceptions — they fall on fixed calendar dates. When those dates land on a weekend, the observed holiday shifts to the nearest weekday.
What happens to refunds scheduled for a bank holiday
If your tax refund, stimulus payment, insurance refund, or business refund is scheduled to post on a federal holiday, it will not arrive that day. The deposit will process on the next business day instead. This delay is automatic — your bank does not hold the money; the Federal Reserve simply does not process transfers on holidays.
Direct deposits are the most common method for refunds. The IRS, state tax agencies, insurance companies, and most businesses use ACH transfers, which route through the Federal Reserve's automated clearing house. The Federal Reserve does not operate on federal holidays, so no ACH transfers post on those days. Wire transfers also do not process on holidays.
If you are tracking a refund and the expected arrival date is a federal holiday, add one business day to your timeline. If the holiday falls on a Friday and the next day is Saturday, the refund will arrive on Monday instead. If the holiday falls on a Monday and the next day is Tuesday, the refund will arrive on Tuesday.
How to plan around bank holidays when waiting for money
When you know a refund is coming, check the calendar for federal holidays in the expected arrival window. If the scheduled date is a holiday, plan for the money to arrive the next business day. This matters most for time-sensitive situations — if you need the refund by a certain date to pay a bill, make sure you account for any holidays in between.
Most refund tracking tools and bank notifications will show you the expected deposit date. If that date is a holiday, contact the issuing agency or your bank to confirm the new arrival date. The IRS, for example, publishes refund status on its website and will show you the expected deposit date; if it lands on a holiday, the actual deposit will be one business day later.
For tax refunds specifically, the IRS processes returns year-round, so holidays affect different taxpayers at different times. If you file in January, your refund may be delayed by New Year's Day or MLK Jr. Day. If you file in April, Memorial Day could push your arrival date back. Plan ahead by filing early if you need the money by a specific date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my refund arrive on a holiday if my bank is open?
No. Even if your bank branch is open on a state or local holiday, federal refunds will not post because the Federal Reserve does not process transfers on federal holidays. Only the 11 federal holidays stop refunds nationwide. State and local holidays do not affect federal banking.
What if a holiday falls on a weekend — does my refund arrive on Friday or Monday?
Banks observe the holiday on the nearest weekday. If a holiday is on Saturday, banks close on Friday, so a refund scheduled for Friday will arrive on Monday. If a holiday is on Sunday, banks close on Monday, so a refund scheduled for Monday will arrive on Tuesday. Check the observed date, not the calendar date.
Can I speed up a refund that is delayed by a holiday?
No. The delay is automatic and built into the Federal Reserve's processing schedule. You cannot expedite a transfer that is held up by a holiday. The refund will post on the next business day after the holiday, and there is no way to move it earlier.
Do credit unions close on federal holidays too?
Credit unions follow the same federal holiday schedule as banks for processing transfers and ACH deposits. However, some credit union branches may have different hours or may stay open on certain holidays. Check with your specific credit union about branch closures, but refunds will still not post until the next business day after a federal holiday.
If Thanksgiving is on Thursday, will my refund arrive Wednesday or Friday?
Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, so it always falls on a Thursday. Banks close on Thursday for Thanksgiving. A refund scheduled for Thursday will arrive on Friday. If you need the money by Thanksgiving, make sure the refund is scheduled to arrive by Wednesday at the latest.