The fastest way to know if today is a bank holiday
The U.S. Federal Reserve publishes a calendar of bank holidays each year on its website. Open the Federal Reserve's official holiday schedule, find today's date, and you will see whether banks are closed. If today appears on that list, most banks will not process transfers, deposits, or withdrawals — though some online banking functions may still work.
The 11 federal bank holidays are fixed dates or specific days within a month. New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas fall on the same date every year. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving always fall on a specific weekday in their month. If today matches one of those dates or days, it is a bank holiday.
Not every state observes every federal holiday the same way. Some states add their own holidays or observe federal holidays on different dates. Your own bank may also have its own closure schedule that differs slightly from the Federal Reserve's. Checking your bank's website directly is the most reliable way to know whether your specific bank is open today.
Key Takeaways
- The Federal Reserve publishes an official bank holiday calendar each year that shows which days banks close nationwide.
- The 11 federal bank holidays include New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and others that fall on fixed dates or specific weekdays.
- Some states observe additional holidays or shift federal holidays to different dates, so your state's banks may close on days outside the federal list.
- Your individual bank may have its own closure schedule, so checking your bank's website is the most direct way to confirm whether they are open today.
The 11 federal bank holidays and when they occur
New Year's Day falls on January 1. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the third Monday in January. Presidents' Day is the third Monday in February. Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. Juneteenth National Independence Day is June 19. Independence Day is July 4. Labor Day is the first Monday in September. Columbus Day is the second Monday in October. Veterans Day is November 11. Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. Christmas Day is December 25.
When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, many banks close on Friday instead. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, banks typically close on Monday. This shift means the actual closure day may not match the official holiday date. The Federal Reserve's calendar shows the day your bank will actually be closed, not just the official holiday date.
Why bank closures matter for your transactions
When a bank is closed on a holiday, deposits you make do not post until the next business day. Checks you deposit will not clear. Wire transfers you initiate will not process. Loan payments, bill payments, and other transfers you schedule may not go through on the holiday itself — they will process the next business day instead.
Online banking platforms often stay open on bank holidays, so you can log in and see your balance or schedule transactions. But the actual movement of money between accounts or institutions does not happen until the bank reopens. If you need money to move by a specific date, plan ahead and initiate the transaction before the holiday.
State and regional variations in bank holidays
Some states observe holidays that the federal government does not. For example, South Carolina observes Confederate Memorial Day, and some other Southern states have their own variations. Texas observes Lyndon B. Johnson Day. These state holidays do not automatically close all banks nationwide, but they may close banks in those states.
A few states do not observe all 11 federal holidays. New Hampshire does not observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday for state employees, though banks still close. Some states shift the observance of federal holidays to different dates. Your bank's website will show which holidays affect your specific branch and accounts.
How to plan transactions around bank holidays
If you need money to arrive by a specific date, count backward from that date and account for any bank holidays in between. A deposit made on a Friday before a three-day weekend (Friday is a holiday, Saturday and Sunday are weekends) will not post until Tuesday. A wire transfer initiated on a Thursday before a Monday holiday will not process until Tuesday.
If you are paying a bill with a due date that falls on a bank holiday, send the payment at least one business day before. Many billers will accept payments posted the day before the due date. If the due date itself is a holiday, your bank may not process the payment until the next day, which could result in a late fee even though you sent it on time.
Where to find your bank's specific holiday schedule
Your bank publishes its own holiday closure schedule on its website, usually under a section called "Hours" or "Locations." Search for "[Your Bank Name] holiday hours" or "[Your Bank Name] closed holidays." The schedule will show which days your specific bank is closed and whether any branches have different hours.
If you use an online-only bank, check whether it observes bank holidays at all. Some online banks process transactions on federal holidays because they have no physical branches to close. Others follow the Federal Reserve's schedule even though no customer-facing location closes. Your bank's customer service line or website will confirm whether today affects your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my debit card or ATM on a bank holiday?
Yes. ATMs and debit cards work on bank holidays because they are not part of the bank's internal processing system. You can withdraw cash and make purchases. However, any transaction that requires the bank to move money between accounts — like a transfer or deposit — will not process until the next business day.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, does the bank close on Friday or Monday?
If a holiday falls on Saturday, banks close on Friday. If it falls on Sunday, banks close on Monday. The Federal Reserve's calendar shows the actual closure day, not the official holiday date. Check the calendar to see which day your bank will actually be closed.
Do credit unions observe the same bank holidays as banks?
Most credit unions follow the Federal Reserve's bank holiday schedule, but not all. Some credit unions may have different closure dates or observe additional holidays. Contact your credit union directly or check its website to confirm whether it is closed today.
What happens if I schedule a payment for a bank holiday?
The payment will process on the next business day after the holiday. If you schedule a bill payment for a Monday that is a bank holiday, it will not leave your account until Tuesday. Plan ahead if the payment has a due date close to a holiday.
Are stock markets closed on the same days as banks?
The stock market closes on most federal bank holidays, but not all. Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) closes the stock market but is not a federal bank holiday. Check the NYSE or NASDAQ holiday calendar if you trade stocks, as it differs slightly from the bank holiday schedule.