How to learn about today is a bank holiday

The fastest way is to check the Federal Reserve's official holiday calendar at federalreserve.gov, which lists every day the banking system closes. You can also call your own bank's customer service line — they will tell you immediately whether branches are open and whether wire transfers or ACH payments are processing.

If you need to know right now, text your bank's support number or log into your online banking app. Most apps show a banner on the home screen when the bank is closed for a holiday. The U.S. Treasury also publishes the full year's holiday schedule on treasury.gov, so you can check ahead for any day you are planning a transaction.

Bank holidays are not the same as federal holidays. Some federal holidays (like Veterans Day) do not close banks. Some bank holidays (like Good Friday in some regions) are not federal holidays. The distinction matters because it affects when your paycheck clears, when wire transfers process, and when loan payments are due.

Key Takeaways

  • The Federal Reserve publishes the official list of bank holidays each year on federalreserve.gov, and you can check it for any specific date.
  • Bank holidays and federal holidays are different — a day off for government workers does not always mean banks are closed, and vice versa.
  • Your own bank's customer service line or mobile app can tell you in seconds whether your branch is open today and whether transactions are processing.
  • When banks are closed, ACH transfers, wire transfers, and check deposits may not process until the next business day, even if you submit them before midnight.
  • The ten official bank holidays are New Year's Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving.

The ten official U.S. bank holidays and their dates

The Federal Reserve recognizes ten holidays when all member banks close. These are: New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), Veterans Day (November 11), and Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November).

Christmas Day (December 25) is also a bank holiday, though it is sometimes listed separately because it falls on a fixed date rather than a calculated one. When any of these dates fall on a weekend, the Federal Reserve typically observes the holiday on the nearest weekday — usually the Friday before if the holiday is on a Saturday, or the Monday after if it is on a Sunday.

Some banks also close on Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), though this is not a federal bank holiday and varies by institution. If you are unsure whether your bank observes Good Friday, call ahead or check your bank's website.

Why bank holidays matter for your money

When a bank is closed for a holiday, transactions do not process in real time. An ACH transfer you submit on a bank holiday will not leave your account or arrive at the receiving account until the next business day. Wire transfers work the same way — they queue up and process once the banking system reopens.

Check deposits submitted on a holiday are not credited until the next business day either. If you deposit a check on a Friday that is a bank holiday, it will not clear until Monday or Tuesday, depending on your bank's processing schedule. This matters if you are counting on that money to cover a bill or payment due soon.

Loan and credit card payments submitted on a bank holiday are typically posted the next business day. If your payment is due on a holiday, most lenders will accept it without penalty if you submit it before midnight on the holiday itself, but confirm this with your lender first. Do not assume a payment submitted on a holiday counts as on-time.

How to plan around bank holidays when you need money

If you are waiting for a refund, paycheck deposit, or transfer to arrive, count backward from the holiday. A direct deposit scheduled for a Friday that is a bank holiday will usually hit your account on Thursday instead, or possibly the following Monday depending on your employer's payroll system. Ask your payroll department or bank which day deposits will process if the regular payday falls on a holiday.

For tax refunds, stimulus payments, and government checks, the IRS and Treasury Department publish processing schedules that account for bank holidays. If your refund is scheduled to arrive on a holiday, it will arrive the business day before. You can track the exact date on the IRS website or through your bank's deposit notification system.

If you need money urgently and a bank holiday is coming up, submit transfers or payments at least one business day early. Do not wait until the day before a holiday to send a wire transfer or submit a bill payment — the queue backs up and you risk missing a deadline.

What to do if you need banking services on a bank holiday

Most brick-and-mortar bank branches are closed on bank holidays, but you can still use ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps to check balances, transfer money between your own accounts, and pay bills. ATMs work 24/7 regardless of holidays.

If you need to speak to someone, some banks staff phone lines on holidays for urgent issues. Call your bank's main customer service number — they will route you to someone who can help if the issue qualifies as urgent. Credit unions sometimes have different holiday schedules than banks, so check with your credit union directly.

If you are in a true emergency — for example, you need to dispute a fraudulent charge or freeze your account — most banks have a 24/7 fraud line that operates on holidays. The number is usually on the back of your debit card.

Bank holidays versus federal holidays: what is the difference

A federal holiday is a day when federal government offices close and federal employees get paid time off. A bank holiday is a day when the Federal Reserve and member banks close. These are not always the same day.

For example, Veterans Day (November 11) is a federal holiday, and banks close on Veterans Day too. But Presidents' Day is a federal holiday that only applies to government workers — banks are open on Presidents' Day, and transactions process normally. Conversely, Good Friday is observed by some banks but is not a federal holiday.

The confusion matters because you might assume that if a government office is closed, banks are too. They usually are, but not always. The safest approach is to check the Federal Reserve's calendar rather than the federal holiday calendar.

How to check the Federal Reserve's official bank holiday calendar

Go to federalreserve.gov and search for "holiday schedule" or "bank holidays." The Federal Reserve publishes the complete schedule for the current year and the next year. You can see the exact date each holiday is observed, including any adjustments for weekends.

The Treasury Department also maintains a holiday schedule at treasury.gov under the "Fiscal Service" section. Both sites are authoritative and will match each other.

If you want to know about a specific date months in advance, you can download or print the full-year calendar from either site. This is useful if you are planning a large transaction or payment and want to make sure it does not land on a holiday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all banks close on the same bank holidays?

Yes, all Federal Reserve member banks close on the ten official bank holidays. However, some banks and credit unions may observe additional holidays like Good Friday. Call your bank to confirm if you are unsure about a specific day.

If I submit a payment on a bank holiday, will it be late?

Most lenders accept payments submitted on a holiday as on-time if you submit them before midnight on the holiday itself. However, the payment will not actually post until the next business day. Contact your lender to confirm their policy before the holiday arrives.

Can I withdraw money from an ATM on a bank holiday?

Yes, ATMs operate 24/7 regardless of bank holidays. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts using an ATM on any holiday.

Will my paycheck deposit on time if payday falls on a bank holiday?

Most employers adjust payroll deposits to arrive the business day before a bank holiday. Ask your payroll department which day your deposit will arrive if your regular payday falls on a holiday.

Are stock markets closed on bank holidays?

Stock markets follow their own holiday schedule, which overlaps with but is not identical to bank holidays. The New York Stock Exchange publishes its own holiday calendar. Check the NYSE website if you are planning a trade around a holiday.