Most banks are closed on Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday in the United States, and nearly all banks observe it by closing their physical branches. This means you cannot visit a teller, use the drive-through, or access in-person services on that day. The holiday falls on the fourth Thursday of November each year.

If you need to handle banking on Thanksgiving, you have limited options. ATMs remain available 24/7 at most banks, so you can withdraw cash or check your balance. Online banking and mobile apps also work normally. But if you need to speak to someone, deposit a check, or handle a transaction that requires a teller, you will have to wait until the bank reopens the next business day.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank branches close on Thanksgiving Day, but ATMs and online banking remain available.
  • If you need cash or to check your balance, use an ATM or your bank's mobile app on Thanksgiving.
  • Checks deposited through a mobile app on Thanksgiving will be processed when the bank reopens, usually the next day.
  • Some credit unions and smaller regional banks may have different holiday schedules, so contact your specific bank to confirm.

What you can and cannot do on Thanksgiving

ATMs work on Thanksgiving because they operate independently of branch staff. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks through a mobile app, transfer money between your own accounts, and check your balance. These transactions process normally.

What you cannot do: speak to a banker, open a new account, explore for a loan, resolve a fraud dispute in real time, or deposit cash at a teller window. Any transaction that requires a person to review or approve it will wait until the bank reopens. If you have an urgent banking problem on Thanksgiving—a fraudulent charge, a locked account, or a payment that failed—you may be able to reach a customer service line if your bank staffs one on holidays, but most do not.

When banks reopen after Thanksgiving

Most banks reopen on Friday after Thanksgiving. This is the day after the holiday, and it is a regular business day. If you deposited a check through your mobile app on Thanksgiving, it will usually be processed and available by Friday or Monday, depending on when you deposited it and your bank's processing schedule.

If Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday and you need banking services on Friday, the bank will be open with normal hours. Plan accordingly if you have time-sensitive transactions—for example, if you need to deposit a check before a payment is due, deposit it through your app on Wednesday or Thursday morning rather than waiting until Thanksgiving.

Credit unions and smaller banks may have different hours

While most large national banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank) close on Thanksgiving, some credit unions and regional banks set their own holiday schedules. A few may stay open on Thanksgiving or close on a different day. The safest approach is to contact your specific bank or credit union directly and ask about their Thanksgiving hours.

You can call the main customer service line, check the bank's website, or visit a branch in person before Thanksgiving to confirm. Many banks post holiday hours online in October or early November, so you can plan ahead.

Planning ahead to avoid Thanksgiving banking problems

If you know you will need cash or need to deposit a check before Thanksgiving, handle it on Wednesday or earlier in the week. Withdraw extra cash from an ATM if you think you might need it over the holiday. If you have a check to deposit, use your bank's mobile app on Wednesday or Thursday morning—most banks process mobile deposits by the next business day.

If you are expecting a payment or transfer on Thanksgiving week, remember that the bank will not process it until Friday at the earliest. If the payment is time-sensitive (for example, you need it to clear before a bill is due), contact the person or company sending the payment and ask them to send it earlier in the week.

What happens to payments and transfers on Thanksgiving

Payments you schedule to go out on Thanksgiving Day will not actually leave your account until the bank reopens on Friday. The same applies to transfers between banks. If you set up a bill payment for Thanksgiving, the bank will hold it and process it the next business day. This can matter if you are trying to pay a bill by a specific important date—the payment will be late if the important date is Thanksgiving or Friday morning.

ACH transfers (the electronic system banks use to move money between accounts) do not process on federal holidays. If you initiate an ACH transfer on Thanksgiving, it will not move until Friday at the earliest, and may not arrive at the receiving bank until Monday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my debit card on Thanksgiving if the bank is closed?

Yes. Your debit card works at any merchant or ATM on Thanksgiving, regardless of whether your bank branch is open. You can make purchases, withdraw cash from ATMs, and check your balance through your bank's app. The bank's closure only affects in-person services at the branch.

Will a check I deposit on Thanksgiving clear by Friday?

If you deposit the check through your mobile app on Thanksgiving, it will likely be available by Friday or Monday, depending on your bank's processing schedule. Checks deposited at an ATM on Thanksgiving will be processed when the bank reopens on Friday. Contact your bank if you need to know the exact timeline for your account.

What if I have a fraudulent charge on Thanksgiving?

Call your bank's customer service number on the back of your card. Some banks staff a fraud line on holidays, though many do not. If you cannot reach anyone, document the charge and call first thing on Friday. Most banks allow you to dispute charges within 60 days, so Thanksgiving will not cause you to miss the important date.

Do online banks close on Thanksgiving?

Online banks like Ally, Charles Schwab Bank, and Discover have no physical branches, so there is nothing to "close." You can transfer money, pay bills, and manage your account normally on Thanksgiving. However, ACH transfers still do not process on federal holidays, so money will not move between banks until Friday.