Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so most banks close on Thursday and the day after
Yes, Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November) is a federal holiday in the United States. Most banks observe it as a paid holiday for their employees and close their physical branches. The day after Thanksgiving, often called Black Friday, is not a federal holiday, but many banks close anyway as an unofficial holiday.
If you need to do banking on Thanksgiving or the Friday after, you will not be able to visit a branch in person. However, online banking, ATMs, and mobile apps continue to work around the clock. Checks you deposit electronically or at an ATM may not process until the following Monday, since the banking system itself does not move money on federal holidays.
Key Takeaways
- Bank branches close on Thanksgiving Day and many close on Black Friday, though the day after Thanksgiving is not officially a federal holiday.
- ATMs and online banking remain available on Thanksgiving and the day after, but transactions do not clear until the next business day.
- Checks deposited on Thanksgiving or Black Friday will not post to your account until Monday at the earliest.
- Wire transfers and ACH payments initiated on Thanksgiving will not process until the next business day.
- If you need cash before Thanksgiving, withdraw it beforehand, since ATMs may run low during the holiday weekend.
Which banks close and which stay open on Thanksgiving
All national banks and most regional banks close their branches on Thanksgiving Day. This includes Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and virtually every other major institution. Credit unions also close on Thanksgiving, with rare exceptions for branches in areas with unusual operating schedules.
Some smaller community banks or credit unions may have different policies, so check your institution's website or call ahead if you are unsure. A few banks in certain regions may keep a single branch open for limited hours, but this is uncommon. The safest assumption is that your bank will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and likely on Black Friday as well.
What you can still do on Thanksgiving without visiting a branch
ATMs work 24/7 on Thanksgiving, so you can withdraw cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts. Online banking portals and mobile apps let you pay bills, move money, and check transactions from your phone or computer. You can also deposit checks using mobile deposit (photograph the check through your bank's app) or by mailing them, though they will not clear until the next business day.
Wire transfers and ACH payments (like direct deposits or bill payments) can be initiated on Thanksgiving through online banking, but the actual transfer does not happen until the next business day. If you need to send money urgently before Thanksgiving, do it on Wednesday. Same-day wire transfers are not available on federal holidays.
When deposits and payments actually process
Any deposit you make on Thanksgiving—whether at an ATM, through mobile deposit, or by mail—will not post to your account until Friday at the earliest, and more likely Monday. The Federal Reserve does not process banking transactions on federal holidays, so the entire banking system pauses. This means a check you deposit on Wednesday will clear by Friday, but one deposited on Thursday will not clear until Monday.
Bill payments scheduled for Thanksgiving Day will process on the next business day (Friday). If you set up a payment to arrive by a specific date and that date falls on Thanksgiving, the payment will arrive the day after instead. Check your bank's bill-pay calendar to see how it handles holiday scheduling.
Planning ahead for the Thanksgiving weekend
Withdraw cash before Wednesday if you think you will need it over the long weekend. ATMs may run low on cash during Thanksgiving week, especially on Thursday and Friday, since many people withdraw money before the holiday. If an ATM is empty or out of service, you will not have another option until Saturday or Monday.
If you are expecting a direct deposit or payment that normally arrives on Thursday or Friday, check with your employer or the paying organization about whether it will arrive on Wednesday instead. Some employers move holiday-week direct deposits earlier to avoid the federal holiday. Do not assume your usual schedule applies during Thanksgiving week.
What happens if you need to reach your bank on Thanksgiving
Customer service phone lines are typically closed on Thanksgiving Day. If you have an urgent banking problem—a fraudulent charge, a locked account, or a payment that needs to stop—you will need to wait until Friday to call. Some banks offer 24/7 fraud hotlines even on holidays, so check your bank's website or the back of your debit card for an emergency number.
If your debit card is lost or stolen on Thanksgiving, call the fraud line on the back of your card (or your bank's website) to report it. Most banks can freeze or replace a card even on holidays through their automated system or a live agent on a dedicated line. For non-urgent issues, wait until Friday or Monday to call customer service.
State and local banking holidays around Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so it applies everywhere in the United States. However, some states observe additional holidays that fall near Thanksgiving. For example, some states observe the day after Thanksgiving as a state holiday, which may affect state-chartered banks or credit unions. Check your bank's holiday schedule on its website to see whether it observes any state-specific holidays in addition to federal ones.
If your bank is closed on a day you expected it to be open, the reason is usually a state or local holiday specific to your region. Calling customer service on the next business day will clarify which holiday caused the closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my debit card on Thanksgiving if the bank is closed?
Yes. Your debit card works at ATMs and stores on Thanksgiving even though the bank branch is closed. You can withdraw cash from any ATM, and you can make purchases anywhere that accepts cards. The only thing you cannot do is visit a physical branch or speak to a teller.
Will my paycheck deposit on Thanksgiving if it normally arrives Thursday?
Probably not. Most employers move Thursday direct deposits to Wednesday when Thanksgiving falls on Thursday. Check with your payroll department or your bank's website to confirm the deposit date for Thanksgiving week. If your employer did not move it, the deposit will arrive Friday instead.
What if I need to deposit a check before Thanksgiving and I am out of town?
Use mobile deposit through your bank's app if you have it. Photograph both sides of the check and submit it through the app. The check will not clear until Monday, but it will be in the system before the holiday. If your bank does not offer mobile deposit, mail the check or wait until you return to deposit it in person.
Do credit unions close on Thanksgiving?
Yes, nearly all credit unions close on Thanksgiving Day. Some may open on Black Friday, but most remain closed. Check your credit union's website or call ahead to confirm its holiday schedule. ATMs and online banking work the same way at credit unions as at banks.
Can I transfer money between banks on Thanksgiving?
You can initiate a transfer through online banking on Thanksgiving, but it will not actually move until Friday at the earliest. ACH transfers (the standard method) take one to three business days, so a transfer started on Thanksgiving will arrive Friday or Monday depending on the receiving bank. Wire transfers are faster but also do not process on federal holidays.