Yes, banks are closed on Christmas Day
Most banks in the United States close on Christmas Day (December 25) because it is a federal holiday. This applies to all major national banks, credit unions, and the vast majority of regional and community banks. The Federal Reserve does not process payments on Christmas, so even if a bank building were open, transfers and deposits would not clear until the next business day.
Christmas Eve (December 24) is a regular business day at most banks, though some branches may close early — typically at 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. instead of their normal closing time. If you need to handle banking before the holiday, call your specific branch to confirm their hours, because closing times vary by location.
If Christmas falls on a weekend, the federal holiday observance shifts. When Christmas is on a Saturday, banks close on Friday, December 24. When Christmas is on a Sunday, banks close on Monday, December 26. This matters because it changes which day your deposits and transfers will process.
Key Takeaways
- Banks close on Christmas Day itself, and the Federal Reserve does not process payments that day, so transactions will not clear until the next business day.
- Christmas Eve is normally open, but many branches close early — call ahead to confirm your branch's hours.
- When Christmas falls on a weekend, the federal holiday observance moves to Friday or Monday, changing when banks close.
- ATMs and online banking work on Christmas Day, but transfers between banks and check deposits will not process until the next business day.
What you can and cannot do on Christmas Day
ATMs work on Christmas Day — you can withdraw cash and check your balance at any time. Online banking also works: you can view your accounts, transfer money between your own accounts at the same bank, and pay bills through your bank's website or app. However, those bill payments and transfers may not reach their destination until the next business day.
What does not work on Christmas Day is anything that requires the Federal Reserve or another bank to process the transaction. This includes deposits (checks or cash), wire transfers to other banks, ACH transfers (like paying a bill at a different bank), and any transaction that needs a teller or bank staff to handle. If you deposit a check on Christmas Day through a mobile app or ATM, it will sit in a queue and process on December 26 (or December 27 if December 26 is also a holiday in your area).
If you need cash on Christmas Day, withdraw it before the 24th. If you need to pay a bill at another bank, send that payment on December 23 at the latest to reach on time — do not wait until Christmas Eve.
How to plan ahead if you need money around Christmas
The safest approach is to handle all banking by December 23. Withdraw the cash you will need, make sure bills are paid, and confirm that any transfers you are expecting have cleared. This gives you a two-day buffer in case something goes wrong.
If you are waiting for a deposit — a paycheck, a tax refund, a transfer from someone else — do not assume it will arrive on December 24 just because you sent it earlier. Deposits can take one to three business days depending on the type and the banks involved. If that money is critical for Christmas, plan as if it will not arrive until December 26.
For bill payments, use your bank's bill pay feature at least two business days before the due date. If a bill is due on December 26, send the payment by December 23. If you are paying by check, mail it even earlier — checks take five to seven business days to clear.
What happens if you need emergency cash on Christmas
If you run out of cash on Christmas Day itself, your options are limited. ATMs will dispense cash if you have a debit card and your account has funds. Some grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience stores offer cash back with a debit card purchase, even on holidays. A few banks operate holiday branches in major cities, but these are rare and you should not count on one being near you.
If you need to borrow money, credit card cash advances work on Christmas (though they charge fees and high interest rates), and some online lenders process loans on holidays. Neither is ideal, which is why planning ahead matters.
Bank hours the day after Christmas
Banks reopen on December 26 (or December 27 if the 26th is also observed as a holiday). Hours are usually normal, though some branches may open an hour late or close an hour early. Call your branch to confirm.
December 26 is when all the transactions that queued up on Christmas Day will process. Deposits will clear, transfers will go through, and checks will be posted. If you are waiting for money, this is when it will likely arrive — but do not count on it arriving first thing in the morning. Processing can take until late afternoon.
How Christmas affects refunds and government payments
Tax refunds, stimulus payments, and other government deposits follow the same rules as regular deposits. If a refund is scheduled to arrive on Christmas Day, it will actually arrive on December 26 (or later if the 26th is a holiday). The government's payment system shuts down on federal holidays just like the banking system does.
If you are tracking a refund or payment and the expected date is Christmas or December 26, add one business day to your mental timeline. The money is not lost — it is simply waiting in the queue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my debit card on Christmas Day?
Yes. Debit cards work at ATMs and stores on Christmas Day. You can make purchases and withdraw cash. However, if you are paying a bill at another bank using your debit card, that transaction may not clear until December 26.
Will my paycheck deposit on Christmas if my employer sends it that day?
No. Even if your employer processes payroll on Christmas, the deposit will not clear until December 26 at the earliest. Most employers process payroll on December 23 or earlier to account for the holiday.
What if I have a check that needs to clear before Christmas?
Deposit it by December 23. Checks typically take one to three business days to clear, so a check deposited on the 23rd should clear by the 26th. Do not wait until Christmas Eve.
Are credit unions closed on Christmas too?
Yes, most credit unions close on Christmas Day because it is a federal holiday. Some may have different hours than banks, so contact your credit union directly to confirm.
Can I pay bills online on Christmas Day?
You can schedule bill payments through your bank's website or app on Christmas Day, but the payment will not reach the other bank until December 26. If a bill is due on the 25th, you should have sent the payment by December 23.