The quickest way to know if Friday is a bank holiday
The only way to know whether this Friday is a bank holiday is to check the current year's federal holiday calendar. There is no single Friday that is always a bank holiday — the date changes every year for most holidays, and some Fridays are never bank holidays at all.
The U.S. federal government recognizes 11 permanent holidays. Of these, only Independence Day (July 4) and Christmas (December 25) fall on the same calendar date every year. The others — Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and the rest — move around based on which day of the week they land on or which week of the month they fall in. This means you need to check the specific year to know whether any given Friday is a holiday.
The most reliable source is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) federal holiday calendar, which publishes the exact dates each year. Your bank's website will also list which days it observes as holidays, since not all banks follow the federal schedule identically.
Key Takeaways
- Federal bank holidays change dates most years because they are tied to specific days of the week (like the third Monday in May for Memorial Day) rather than fixed calendar dates.
- The Office of Personnel Management publishes the official federal holiday calendar each year, showing which Fridays will be bank holidays.
- Your specific bank may observe holidays on different days than the federal schedule, so checking your bank's holiday calendar is more accurate than assuming the federal list applies.
- When a federal holiday falls on a weekend, banks typically observe it on the nearest weekday — usually Friday if the holiday is on Saturday, or Monday if it is on Sunday.
Which Fridays are federal bank holidays
These Fridays can be bank holidays, depending on the year:
| Holiday | When it falls on Friday |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day (January 1) | When January 1 is a Friday |
| Independence Day (July 4) | When July 4 is a Friday |
| Christmas (December 25) | When December 25 is a Friday |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May — never a Friday |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September — never a Friday |
| Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday in November — never a Friday |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January — never a Friday |
| Presidents' Day | Third Monday in February — never a Friday |
| Juneteenth (June 19) | When June 19 is a Friday |
| Veterans Day (November 11) | When November 11 is a Friday |
| Thanksgiving Day after | Day after Thanksgiving — sometimes a Friday |
The day after Thanksgiving is the only moveable holiday that regularly falls on a Friday. It occurs the day after the fourth Thursday in November, which means it is always a Friday. However, not all banks observe this day as a holiday — some do, and some do not.
What happens when a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday
When a federal holiday lands on a Saturday, banks typically observe the holiday on the preceding Friday. When a holiday lands on a Sunday, banks typically observe it on the following Monday. This is why you might see a Friday marked as a holiday even though the actual holiday date is a Saturday.
For example, if Christmas (December 25) falls on a Saturday, your bank will likely be closed on Friday, December 24. If New Year's Day (January 1) falls on a Sunday, your bank will likely be closed on Monday, January 2. The OPM calendar shows the observed date, not the actual date, so checking that calendar tells you which day your bank will actually be closed.
How to check your specific bank's holiday schedule
Your bank's website has a holiday calendar in the customer service or contact section. Search for "holiday hours" or "bank holidays" on your bank's site. Most banks publish their full-year holiday schedule by early January.
If you cannot find it online, call your bank's customer service line and ask which days it will be closed this year. Some banks, particularly smaller regional banks or credit unions, may observe holidays differently than the federal schedule — for instance, some observe the day after Thanksgiving and some do not.
If you need to do banking on a specific Friday, do not assume based on the federal calendar. Check your bank's schedule first, because that is what determines whether your branch will be open.
Why the dates move around each year
Most federal holidays are defined by a rule rather than a fixed date. Memorial Day is "the last Monday in May," not "May 30." Labor Day is "the first Monday in September," not a specific date. This system was chosen to keep holidays on weekdays and avoid having them fall on weekends.
The result is that the same holiday can fall on different calendar dates from year to year. Memorial Day might be May 27 one year and June 2 the next. This is why you cannot straightforward remember "the third Friday in May is always a holiday" — you have to check the calendar each year.
How bank closures affect your transactions
If you try to deposit a check or transfer money on a Friday that is a bank holiday, the transaction will not process until the next business day. If that next business day is a weekend, the transaction will not clear until Monday. This matters if you are counting on the money being available by a certain date.
Automated transactions like bill payments and direct deposits usually process on schedule even on holidays, since they happen through the banking system's back-end infrastructure rather than through a branch. However, if you need to speak to someone at your bank or visit a branch, you will need to wait until the next business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if this Friday is a bank holiday without checking online?
You cannot know for certain without checking. The only Fridays that are always bank holidays are when January 1, July 4, or December 25 fall on a Friday. For all other potential holidays, the date changes every year. Your safest option is to check your bank's website or call the branch.
Will my direct deposit come through on a bank holiday Friday?
Yes, direct deposits typically process on schedule on bank holidays because they are automated. However, if the holiday is on a Friday and the next business day is a weekend, the funds may not be available in your account until Monday, depending on your bank's processing rules.
Can I use an ATM on a bank holiday Friday?
Yes, ATMs operate 24/7 regardless of bank holidays. You can withdraw cash and check your balance on a holiday. However, if you need to speak with a banker or visit a branch, you will need to wait until the next business day.
What if my bank observes different holidays than the federal government?
Some banks, particularly credit unions and regional banks, may observe holidays that the federal government does not, or skip some federal holidays. Always check your specific bank's holiday calendar rather than assuming it follows the federal schedule exactly.
If a holiday falls on Saturday, is Friday always a bank holiday?
Usually, yes — most banks observe the holiday on the preceding Friday when the actual holiday is a Saturday. However, some banks may handle this differently, so confirm with your bank rather than assuming.