Most banks are closed on Thanksgiving Day, but you can still access your money

Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday, and most banks — including Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank — close their physical branches. You will not be able to walk into a branch or speak to a teller. However, you can still withdraw cash from ATMs, transfer money online, and use mobile banking apps. The closure is one day only; branches reopen the day after Thanksgiving.

Credit unions follow the same pattern. If your bank is a smaller regional or community bank, call ahead to confirm, because some stay open or run limited hours on the holiday. The Federal Reserve and the clearing house that processes transfers between banks are also closed, which means any transfers you initiate on Thanksgiving will not move until Friday.

Key Takeaways

  • ATMs work on Thanksgiving Day even when branches are closed, so you can withdraw cash anytime.
  • Online banking, mobile apps, and bill pay all function normally on Thanksgiving, but transfers between banks will not process until the next business day.
  • Credit unions and smaller banks may have different hours, so contact yours directly if you are unsure.
  • If you need cash before Thanksgiving, withdraw it the day before rather than waiting until the holiday.

What you can and cannot do on Thanksgiving

ATMs are open 24 hours on Thanksgiving, just as they are every other day. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit checks into the ATM envelope. Debit card transactions at stores and restaurants work normally. Online transfers within your own bank — moving money between your checking and savings accounts — process when ready.

What does not work: you cannot speak to a banker, deposit cash over the counter, get a cashier's check, or resolve a fraud dispute in person. If you need to transfer money to someone at a different bank, the transfer will sit in a queue until Friday morning. Wire transfers also wait until the next business day. Any check you deposit on Thanksgiving will not clear until Friday at the earliest.

When transfers actually move on and after Thanksgiving

The Federal Reserve, which clears most transfers between banks, does not operate on Thanksgiving. Any ACH transfer (the standard way money moves between checking accounts) that you initiate on Thanksgiving enters the system on Friday morning. If Friday is also a holiday — which happens in some years — the transfer waits until Monday.

Wire transfers follow the same rule. A wire you send on Thanksgiving will not leave your bank until Friday. Same-day transfers, which some banks offer, are not available on federal holidays. If you are expecting money to arrive on Thanksgiving, and the sender initiated it that day, it will not land in your account until Friday.

Planning ahead to avoid Thanksgiving payment problems

If you need to pay a bill on Thanksgiving, pay it online through your bank's bill pay system before the holiday. Bill pay queues payments to arrive on the date you specify, and the system accounts for holidays automatically. A bill you schedule to pay on Thanksgiving will actually send on Friday, arriving at the creditor by the following week.

If you need cash, withdraw it on Wednesday. If you are expecting a paycheck or a transfer to arrive by Thanksgiving, ask the sender to initiate it by Wednesday morning so it clears by Thursday afternoon. Thanksgiving is a one-day closure, but the clearing system's shutdown means the ripple effect extends into Friday.

Credit unions and smaller banks

Most credit unions close on Thanksgiving, but some stay open with reduced hours. Navy Federal Credit Union, for example, closes branches but keeps some locations open in military facilities. Smaller regional banks vary widely — some close, some run skeleton crews, and some stay fully open. Your best move is to call your branch directly or check your bank's website, which usually posts holiday hours by mid-November.

If your bank is closed and you need to speak to someone, many banks offer phone support on holidays, though wait times are longer. Check your bank's website for a holiday customer service number. Online chat support is sometimes available even when branches are closed.

International transfers and business accounts

International wire transfers are also delayed by Thanksgiving. SWIFT, the system that moves money between countries, does not operate on U.S. federal holidays. A wire you send on Thanksgiving to an account overseas will not move until Friday, and may not arrive at the receiving bank until the following Monday or Tuesday, depending on time zones and that country's banking hours.

Business accounts that process payroll should initiate payroll by Wednesday if employees need funds by Friday. Most payroll processors account for holidays automatically, but confirm with your processor if you are unsure. ACH payroll initiated on Thanksgiving will not process until Friday, meaning employees receive funds on Friday or Monday depending on their bank's processing speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Debit cards work at stores, restaurants, and ATMs on Thanksgiving. The merchant's system connects directly to your bank's payment network, which operates on holidays. Only person-to-person transfers between banks are delayed.

What if I need to deposit a check on Thanksgiving?

Use your bank's mobile app to deposit it remotely — most banks let you photograph the check and submit it through the app. The check will not clear until Friday, but the deposit is recorded when ready. If your bank does not have mobile deposit, wait until Friday to deposit it in person or at an ATM.

Will my bill payment go through if I schedule it for Thanksgiving?

Yes, if you schedule it through your bank's bill pay system. The system automatically adjusts the send date to Friday when you select Thanksgiving. The bill will arrive at the creditor by the following week. Do not wait until Thanksgiving to schedule it — set it up by Wednesday.

Can I get a wire transfer on Thanksgiving?

No. The Federal Reserve does not process wires on Thanksgiving, so any wire you send or receive on that day will not move until Friday. If you are expecting a wire by Thanksgiving, ask the sender to initiate it by Wednesday morning.

Are online banks open on Thanksgiving?

Yes. Online-only banks like Ally and Charles Schwab do not have physical branches, so there is no closure. You can transfer money, pay bills, and access your account normally. The clearing system delay still applies — transfers to other banks will not process until Friday.