Most banks close on federal holidays, but the rules vary by bank and by holiday

Yes, most banks in the United States close on federal holidays. When a bank closes, you cannot visit a branch, use a teller, or speak to a loan officer in person. However, you can still use ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps to check balances, transfer money between your own accounts, and set up bill payments. The catch is that transactions you initiate during a closure may not process until the next business day.

Not all banks follow the same holiday schedule. Large national banks like Bank of America, Chase, and Wells Fargo close on the same federal holidays. Credit unions and smaller regional banks sometimes have different schedules. Some banks stay open on holidays that others close for, and a few remain open on most federal holidays if they are located in states that do not observe certain holidays.

The federal holidays that trigger most bank closures 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. Some banks also close on the day after Thanksgiving.

Key Takeaways

  • Most major banks close their branches on eleven federal holidays per year, but ATMs and online banking remain available.
  • Transactions you submit during a holiday closure will process on the next business day, not immediately.
  • Wire transfers, ACH payments, and checks deposited on a holiday may take longer to clear because the Federal Reserve does not process them on those days.
  • Your specific bank's holiday schedule depends on which bank you use, so checking their website or calling ahead is the only way to know for certain.
  • If you need cash or in-person service on a holiday, ATMs work around the clock, and some credit unions or online banks may have different schedules than traditional banks.

How bank closures affect transfers and payments

When you send money on a federal holiday, the timing depends on the type of transaction. A transfer between two accounts at the same bank usually posts immediately if you do it through online banking or a mobile app, even on a holiday. The bank's computer system processes it right away. However, if you go to an ATM and deposit a check on a holiday, that check will not be processed until the next business day, so the funds will not be available until then.

Wire transfers and ACH payments (the electronic transfers used for direct deposit, bill pay, and moving money between banks) do not process on federal holidays. The Federal Reserve, which operates the system that clears these transactions, is closed. If you initiate a wire transfer or ACH payment on a holiday, it will sit in a queue and process on the next business day. This means if you send money on Friday before a three-day weekend, it may not arrive until Tuesday.

Checks you write do not clear faster or slower because of a bank holiday. The check still travels through the clearing system at its normal pace. A check deposited on a holiday will be processed the next business day, just like any other check.

Which federal holidays close banks

The Federal Reserve observes eleven federal holidays each year. Banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System typically close on all of them. These holidays are: 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 the day after Thanksgiving, though this is not a federal holiday. A few banks close on additional state holidays that are observed in the states where they operate. For example, a bank in Texas might close on Texas Independence Day (March 2) if that bank has branches throughout the state.

If a federal holiday falls on a weekend, the Federal Reserve observes it on the nearest weekday. If Christmas falls on a Saturday, banks close on Friday. If New Year's Day falls on a Sunday, banks close on Monday. This means the actual closure date can shift depending on the calendar.

What you can and cannot do when a bank is closed

When your bank is closed on a holiday, you can still access your money and manage your account through digital channels. ATMs work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so you can withdraw cash, deposit checks, and check your balance. Online banking portals and mobile apps let you transfer money between your own accounts, pay bills, and review transactions. You can also set up automatic payments or recurring transfers that will execute on the next business day.

What you cannot do is speak to a person at the bank or visit a branch. If you need to open a new account, apply for a loan, dispute a transaction, or resolve a problem that requires human judgment, you will have to wait until the bank reopens. Some banks offer phone support on holidays, but many do not. A few large banks have customer service lines that operate on holidays, so calling ahead to ask is worth the effort if you have an urgent issue.

If you need cash on a holiday and your bank's ATM is not working or you have reached your daily withdrawal limit, you can visit another bank's ATM. Most ATMs accept cards from other banks, though you may pay a fee of one to three dollars per transaction.

How to find your bank's specific holiday schedule

The best way to know whether your bank closes on a specific holiday is to check their website. Most banks publish their holiday schedule in the "Contact Us" or "Hours" section. You can also call your bank's main customer service line and ask. If you bank at a credit union, call the credit union directly because their schedule may differ from national banks.

If you are planning a transaction that matters — such as a large wire transfer or a payment with a deadline — do not assume your bank follows the standard federal holiday schedule. Call or check online first. This is especially important if you bank at a smaller regional bank or credit union, which may have a different schedule than Chase or Bank of America.

Some online banks and fintech companies do not close on federal holidays because they have no physical branches. If you use an online-only bank like Ally or Charles Schwab, you can transfer money and manage your account on any day of the year. However, the underlying systems that move money between banks (the Federal Reserve's systems) are still closed, so transfers to other banks will not process until the next business day.

Planning around bank holidays for time-sensitive payments

If you have a payment due on or near a federal holiday, submit it early. Do not wait until the day before a holiday to send a wire transfer or ACH payment if the money needs to arrive by a specific date. A payment submitted on Friday before a three-day weekend will not process until Tuesday, which could be too late if it was due on Monday.

For bills with fixed due dates, set up automatic bill pay through your bank or through the company you are paying. Automatic payments process on schedule even if a holiday falls in between. If you are paying a credit card, mortgage, or utility bill, automatic payment removes the risk of missing a deadline because of a bank closure.

If you are receiving money — such as a paycheck via direct deposit or a refund via ACH transfer — a federal holiday can delay when the funds appear in your account. Direct deposits scheduled for a holiday will post on the next business day. If your employer normally deposits on Friday and Friday is a holiday, the deposit may not arrive until Monday.

What happens to checks and deposits during bank holidays

A check you deposit on a federal holiday will not be processed until the next business day. The bank's check-processing equipment does not run on holidays, and the Federal Reserve does not clear checks on those days. This means if you deposit a check at an ATM on a holiday, it will sit in the system overnight and be processed the following day. The funds may not be available for two to five business days after that, depending on the check amount and your bank's policies.

If you deposit a check through mobile deposit (taking a photo of the check with your phone), the timing is the same. The app may accept the deposit on a holiday, but the bank will not process it until the next business day. Some banks show a temporary hold on the funds while the check clears, even though you submitted it on a holiday.

Checks you receive are not affected by bank holidays in terms of when they expire or when you must deposit them. A check is still valid whether the bank is open or closed. However, if a check is about to expire and a holiday is coming up, deposit it before the holiday to avoid any delays in processing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my direct deposit arrive on a federal holiday?

No. If your employer's payroll system is set to deposit on a federal holiday, the deposit will process on the next business day instead. If payday falls on a Friday that is a federal holiday, your deposit will arrive on Monday. Check with your employer about their specific payroll schedule to know when to expect your money.

Can I withdraw money from an ATM on a federal holiday?

Yes. ATMs operate twenty-four hours a day, including federal holidays. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks, and check your balance on any holiday. The only limitation is your daily withdrawal limit, which your bank sets. If you reach that limit, you will have to wait until the next day to withdraw more.

Do online banks close on federal holidays?

Online banks do not close their digital platforms on federal holidays because they have no physical branches. You can log in, transfer money, and manage your account any day of the year. However, transfers to other banks will not process until the next business day because the Federal Reserve is closed.

What if I need to speak to someone at my bank on a holiday?

Most banks do not have staff available on federal holidays, but some large banks offer limited phone support. Call your bank's customer service number to ask if they have holiday hours. If they do not, you will have to wait until the next business day to speak with someone in person or by phone.

How long does a wire transfer take if I send it on a holiday?

A wire transfer submitted on a federal holiday will not process until the next business day. If you send it on Friday before a three-day weekend, it will not move until Tuesday. For time-sensitive payments, submit wire transfers on a regular business day to ensure they process the same day.