Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but most banks stay open
Juneteenth (June 19) became a federal holiday in 2021, which means the federal government observes it and most federal employees get the day off. However, most banks remain open on Juneteenth. Banks are not required to close for all federal holidays — they choose which ones to observe based on their own policies and state law.
If you need to do banking on Juneteenth, call your bank ahead of time or check their website to confirm hours. Some banks may close, particularly in states that have made Juneteenth a state holiday with stronger closure requirements, but this is not the standard. The Federal Reserve and most major national banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo stay open on Juneteenth.
If you have a refund pending or need to deposit a check, Juneteenth will not delay processing the way a bank closure would. However, if Juneteenth falls on a weekday and your bank is one of the few that closes, any deposits made that day will post the next business day instead.
Key Takeaways
- Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but banks are not required to close and most stay open with regular hours.
- Call your specific bank to confirm whether they are open on Juneteenth, since policies vary by institution and state.
- If your bank is closed on Juneteenth, deposits and transfers will process the next business day.
- The Federal Reserve observes Juneteenth, which can affect wire transfers and ACH processing if you are sending money between banks.
- Tax refunds, stimulus payments, and other government deposits follow the Federal Reserve calendar, not individual bank calendars.
How Juneteenth affects wire transfers and ACH payments
When Juneteenth falls on a weekday, the Federal Reserve closes. This matters if you are sending or receiving money between banks via wire transfer or ACH (automated clearing house) transfer. Transactions initiated on Juneteenth will not process until the next business day, even if your own bank is open.
If you are waiting for a refund or payment that normally arrives via ACH — such as a tax refund, insurance refund, or business payment — and it is scheduled to arrive on Juneteenth, it will arrive on the next business day instead. The same applies to wire transfers. Your bank may show the transaction as pending, but the money will not move between institutions until the Federal Reserve reopens.
If Juneteenth falls on a weekend (as it did in 2025, when June 19 was a Thursday but observed on Monday June 16), the Federal Reserve is already closed, so there is no additional delay beyond the normal weekend hold.
What happens to tax refunds and government payments on Juneteenth
The IRS and other federal agencies follow the Federal Reserve calendar for processing refunds and payments. If your tax refund is scheduled to arrive on Juneteenth, it will arrive on the next business day instead. The same applies to stimulus payments, Social Security deposits, and other government transfers.
The IRS publishes a refund schedule each year that accounts for federal holidays. If you are tracking your refund status through the IRS website (Where's My Refund?), the estimated delivery date already reflects Juneteenth closures. You do not need to add extra days yourself.
If you filed your taxes and chose direct deposit, your refund goes through the ACH system, which means it follows the Federal Reserve calendar. If you chose a paper check, the IRS mails it regardless of the holiday, but delivery time depends on postal service speed, not bank holidays.
State-level Juneteenth observance and what it means for banking
All 50 states now recognize Juneteenth as a holiday, but not all states require banks to close. Some states have made it a paid holiday for state employees but do not mandate bank closures. Others have passed laws requiring banks to close on Juneteenth.
If you live in a state that requires bank closures on Juneteenth, your bank will likely be closed. States with stronger Juneteenth closure laws include Texas (where Juneteenth originated) and several others that have passed specific legislation. However, even in these states, some banks may stay open if they are not subject to state banking regulations or if they have obtained an exemption.
The safest approach is to contact your bank directly rather than relying on state law. Banks can tell you their specific Juneteenth policy in seconds, and it is worth confirming if you have a time-sensitive transaction planned.
Planning around Juneteenth if you are waiting for money
If you are tracking a refund or payment that might arrive around Juneteenth, check the estimated delivery date on the tracking tool provided by the issuer. The IRS, your state tax authority, your insurance company, and most businesses all publish estimated delivery dates that account for federal holidays.
If the estimated date falls on or very close to Juneteenth, add one business day to your expectations. If Juneteenth is on a Friday, for example, expect the money on Monday. If it is on a Monday, expect it on Tuesday.
If you need the money by a specific date and Juneteenth is in the way, contact the issuer and ask whether they can process it earlier or whether they have already factored the holiday into their estimate. Many refund programs and government agencies can adjust timing if you explain the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my tax refund be delayed if it arrives on Juneteenth?
Your refund will arrive on the next business day instead of Juneteenth. The IRS already accounts for this in the estimated delivery date shown on Where's My Refund?, so you do not need to add extra days yourself.
Can I deposit a check at an ATM on Juneteenth if the bank is closed?
Yes, ATM deposits work on Juneteenth even if the bank branch is closed. However, the deposit will not post to your account until the next business day because the bank's processing system is closed.
Does Juneteenth affect wire transfers between banks?
Yes, if Juneteenth falls on a weekday. Wire transfers initiated on Juneteenth will not process until the next business day because the Federal Reserve is closed and does not process interbank transfers on federal holidays.
What if my insurance refund is supposed to arrive on Juneteenth?
Contact your insurance company and ask whether they have already factored Juneteenth into their estimated delivery date. If not, expect the refund one business day later. Insurance companies typically process refunds through ACH, which follows the Federal Reserve calendar.
Is Juneteenth a paid holiday for all workers?
Juneteenth is a paid holiday for federal employees. Private employers and state employees are not required to observe it, though many do. Check your employee handbook or ask your HR department about your workplace's Juneteenth policy.