Most banks are closed the day after Thanksgiving

The day after Thanksgiving—the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November—is not a federal holiday, so banks are not required to close. However, most major banks do close on this day anyway. Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and most regional banks treat it as a holiday and do not open their branches.

The reason is practical: Thanksgiving itself is a federal holiday when banks close. Many banks extend the closure to Friday to give staff a four-day weekend. This is a business decision, not a legal requirement. Some smaller banks and credit unions may stay open, but you should not assume yours will.

ATMs and online banking work normally on the day after Thanksgiving, even when branches are closed. You can withdraw cash, check balances, transfer money between your own accounts, and pay bills online without interruption. The closure only affects in-person services like deposits, withdrawals at the teller window, loan applications, and account changes that require a staff member.

Key Takeaways

  • Most major banks close their branches the day after Thanksgiving, though this is a business choice rather than a legal requirement.
  • ATMs remain available and online banking continues to work normally when branches are closed.
  • If you need cash or to deposit a check, plan ahead by visiting your bank on Wednesday or Thursday before the holiday.
  • Wire transfers and ACH transfers initiated before the holiday may not process until the following Monday.
  • Credit unions vary widely—some close for the long weekend, others stay open—so check your institution directly.

Which banks close and which stay open

The largest banks in the United States—Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, U.S. Bank, PNC, and Truist—all close on the day after Thanksgiving. If you bank with one of these, assume your branch will not be open.

Smaller regional banks and credit unions are less consistent. Some treat the day after Thanksgiving as a regular business day. Others close only on Thanksgiving itself and reopen Friday. A few close for the entire four-day weekend. The only way to know for certain is to check your bank's website or call the branch directly. Most banks post holiday hours online by early November.

Online-only banks like Ally, Charles Schwab Bank, and Discover have no physical branches, so the day after Thanksgiving makes no difference to them. You can still deposit checks by phone camera, transfer money, and manage your account exactly as you would on any other day.

What you can and cannot do when branches are closed

When your bank's branch is closed, ATMs work normally. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks (if your ATM has a deposit slot), and check your balance. Online banking portals and mobile apps work normally too. You can transfer money between your own accounts, pay bills, set up recurring payments, and view statements.

What you cannot do is walk into a branch and speak to a person. You cannot deposit cash at the teller window, open a new account, explore for a loan, dispute a transaction in person, or get a cashier's check. If you need any of these services, you must wait until the branch reopens on Saturday or Monday (depending on whether your bank opens on Saturday).

Wire transfers and ACH transfers initiated on the day after Thanksgiving may not process until the following Monday. The banking system itself does not process these transfers on federal holidays or the day after them. If you need money to move by a specific date, initiate the transfer before Thanksgiving.

Planning ahead for the long weekend

If you know you will need cash or need to deposit a check, visit your bank on Wednesday or Thursday before Thanksgiving. This is the safest approach and avoids any surprises. Withdraw enough cash to cover the weekend and the following Monday if your bank is closed on Saturday.

If you need to deposit a check, do it before the holiday. Checks deposited after hours or on a closed day are processed the next business day the bank is open, which could be Monday. If the check is time-sensitive, depositing it Wednesday or Thursday ensures it clears faster.

If you use bill pay or automatic transfers, set these up before the holiday. Most scheduled payments process normally even when branches are closed, but it is better to confirm this with your bank than to discover a payment failed after the fact.

What happens to payments and transfers over the long weekend

Payments you schedule to go out on the day after Thanksgiving may not process until the following Monday. This depends on the type of payment. Bill payments sent through your bank's bill pay system usually process on the next business day, which would be Monday. Automatic recurring payments (like insurance premiums or loan payments) typically process on schedule even if the bank is closed, because they are handled by the automated system, not by staff.

ACH transfers (the system used for direct deposit and most bank-to-bank transfers) do not process on federal holidays or the day after them. If you initiate an ACH transfer on Friday after Thanksgiving, it will not move until Monday. Wire transfers also do not process on these days. If timing matters, initiate the transfer before Thursday.

Credit card payments work the same way. If you pay your credit card bill on the day after Thanksgiving, the payment will post on Monday. This does not hurt you—the payment still counts as on time as long as it is received by the due date. But if your due date is Saturday or Sunday, paying on Friday will not reach the card company in time.

International transfers and business banking

If you need to send money internationally, the day after Thanksgiving creates a longer delay. International wire transfers do not process on federal holidays or the day after them. A transfer initiated Friday after Thanksgiving will not leave your bank until Monday, and will not arrive at the receiving bank until Tuesday or later, depending on the destination country and time zones.

Business banking services are also affected. If you run a business and need to deposit checks, process payroll, or handle merchant deposits, plan to do this before the holiday. Payroll processed on the day after Thanksgiving may not hit employee accounts until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Your debit card works normally at stores, ATMs, and online merchants. The bank being closed does not affect card transactions. Purchases post to your account as usual, though the merchant may not receive the payment until the next business day.

Will my direct deposit arrive on time if the day after Thanksgiving falls on a payday?

Direct deposits scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving usually arrive on that day, because the automated system processes them regardless of whether the branch is open. However, some employers delay payroll when it falls on or near a holiday. Check with your employer to confirm the deposit date.

What if I need cash and the ATM is out of money?

ATMs can run out of cash during long holiday weekends, especially in busy areas. If this happens, you will need to wait until the branch reopens or find another bank's ATM. This is rare but possible, so withdraw cash before the holiday if you can.

Do credit unions close on the day after Thanksgiving?

Some do and some do not. Credit unions are not required to follow the same holiday schedule as banks. Check your credit union's website or call ahead to confirm their hours for the day after Thanksgiving.

If I mail a check to my bank on the day after Thanksgiving, when will it be processed?

Mail received on the day after Thanksgiving will not be opened or processed until the branch reopens. If it reopens on Saturday, processing begins then. If it reopens on Monday, processing begins Monday. The check will be credited to your account the next business day after it is received and processed.