It’s annoying to go somewhere to run an errand, only to find out the business is closed. If that somewhere is your bank, and you’ve got time-sensitive money-related business to conduct there, it can be especially annoying to find the lights out and the door locked.
Fortunately, banks don’t take many days off, and the days they do take off are fairly consistent from year to year. Here’s when you can expect your bank to be closed.
Are Banks Open Today? – When They Are Closed (2023)
The TL;DR is that if it’s a major federal holiday, there’s a good chance your bank is closed. Banks observe the same holidays from year to year, although the dates they fall on differ.
The Federal Reserve, which oversees the U.S. banking system, observes 11 federal holidays, which banks observe too. In 2023, these federal holidays are as follows:
| Date | Day of the Week | Holiday |
| January 2 | Monday | New Year’s Day (Observed) |
| January 16 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
| February 20 | Monday | Washington’s Birthday/ Presidents’ Day |
| May 29 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| June 19 | Monday | Juneteenth |
| July 4 | Tuesday | Independence Day |
| September 4 | Monday | Labor Day |
| October 9 | Monday | Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day |
| November 11 | Saturday | Veterans Day |
| November 23 | Thursday | Thanksgiving |
| December 25 | Monday | Christmas |
Your bank may choose to close on additional dates, such as Christmas or New Year’s Eve or to hold a staff volunteering day. Visit your bank’s website or call your local branch for specifics.
What Bank Holidays Mean for You
You can still use the ATM and access online banking when your branch is closed. If you use an online bank, you can access all of your normal services. However, since the Federal Reserve is closed on the above dates, it may delay transaction processing times.
For example, if it normally takes two to three business days for a deposited check to clear, it may take an additional business day if you deposit the check around a holiday. If you’re in a pinch and need to cash a check ASAP, you can explore other check-cashing options, but you’ll incur fees for doing so.
If you use online billpay, it’s best to schedule your payments for a day or two before the due dates to make sure they aren’t late if they occur around a holiday.
If your bank closes on a day that isn’t one of the 11 holidays listed about, it won’t affect transaction times since the Federal Reserve is still open.
Customer service may also be unavailable or limited on a bank holiday.
Other Potential Bank Holidays to Keep in Mind
These federal holidays aren’t the only days banks might be closed.
Some banks and credit unions close for other holidays (and quasi-holidays) that aren’t recognized as official federal holidays. This happens at management’s discretion and often isn’t broadcast widely, so you should get in the habit of checking your bank’s website before venturing out on unofficial holidays.
Common examples of unofficial bank holidays and quasi-holidays include:
| Date | Day of the Week | Holiday |
| February 21 | Tuesday | Mardi Gras (Louisiana)* |
| February 22 | Wednesday | Chinese New Year |
| April 5 | Wednesday | 1st night of Passover |
| April 7 | Friday | Good Friday |
| April 17 | Monday | Patriots’ Day (Mass., Maine, Conn., Wis.)* |
| November 24 | Friday | Black Friday |
| December 24 | Sunday* | Christmas Eve |
| December 31 | Sunday* | New Year’s Eve |
Even if banks aren’t closed on these days, they may have abbreviated hours. Typically, this means they open at the usual time but close early, perhaps at 12pm or 1pm.
Note that in 2023, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on Sundays. Since banks are generally closed on Sundays, these quasi-holidays won’t affect bank opening schedules in 2023. But in other years, when they fall on weekdays or Saturdays, they may.
As for Mardi Gras and Patriots’ Day, they’re most likely to affect bank opening schedules in the states where they’re recognized as official holidays: Louisiana for Mardi Gras and Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and Wisconsin for Patriots’ Day. Some banks in Mississippi and Alabama may close for Mardi Gras as well, but this isn’t as common.
What Are Regular Bank Hours?
Most banks and credit unions are open during what Americans commonly understand as “regular business hours”: 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Deviation From Regular Bank Hours
Some banks’ and credit unions’ hours deviate slightly from this schedule. They might open at 8:30am or 9:30am on weekdays, or close at 4pm or 4:30pm.
Although this isn’t as common as it was before online banking, some banks extend their hours into the evening on one or more weekdays (often Thursday). On these days, banks might be open until 7pm or 8pm. Other banks might close their lobbies after 5pm but keep their drive-thrus open 2 or 3 hours later.
Weekend Bank Hours
Banks and credit unions traditionally remained closed on Sunday, and that’s still largely the case. Online banking portals are open 24/7, of course, but banks don’t process transactions on Sundays (or Saturdays for that matter).
Most banks and credit unions open for a few hours on Saturday, or at least open some of their branches. (Branches in business districts that see little traffic on weekends might remain closed, for example.)
Typical Saturday bank opening hours occur in the morning: 9am to 12pm or 1pm. It’s uncommon though not unheard of for banks to remain open well into the afternoon on Saturday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bank Holidays and Hours
Still have questions about bank holidays and bank opening hours? We’ve answered the most common queries here.
Do Banking Transactions Go Through on Bank Holidays?
No, banking transactions don’t go through on bank holidays. If you initiate a bank transfer, payment, or other financial transaction on one of the federal holidays above, it won’t actually begin until the next business day.
Do Bank Holidays Affect Branchless Banks?
Branchless banks, as online banks are sometimes called, remain accessible online 24/7 except when they’re down for maintenance. This is true for traditional banks’ online banking portals as well. But the same holiday transaction rules apply — they don’t process transactions on holidays, so they don’t offer any advantage over “regular” banks in this regard.
Are Banks Open on Christmas Eve?
Yes, many banks are open on Christmas Eve, though it’s always a good idea to check your bank’s website or call your local branch to confirm. It’s common for banks to have abbreviated hours on Christmas Eve, opening at the normal time in the morning but closing early in the afternoon.
Are Banks Open on New Year’s Eve?
Yes, many banks are open on New Year’s Eve. Like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve is a common day for abbreviated bank hours, so do call ahead to confirm.
Are Banks Open on Black Friday?
Banks are usually open on Black Friday, which is the day after Thanksgiving. Even though many companies give their employees the day off to create a 4-day weekend, banks have traditionally stayed open since Black Friday was (and still is to some extent) a big business day for retailers.
Are Banks Open on Good Friday?
Many banks are open on Good Friday, which is the Friday before Easter. But some do close to observe Good Friday, so call ahead to confirm.
Final Word
With so much banking taking place digitally, bank closures aren’t as big a deal as they once were. But they can still put a crimp in your plans if they prevent you from accessing cash or lead to late fees. Be aware of bank holidays to ensure an ill-timed transaction doesn’t get you in trouble.