Most banks close on Good Friday, but not all services stop
Yes, most banks in the United States close on Good Friday. It is a federal holiday, which means the Federal Reserve does not operate and most traditional banks shut their doors. However, the closure is not complete — some banking services continue, and the rules differ depending on the type of bank you use and what you are trying to do.
Good Friday falls on different dates each year because it is tied to Easter. In 2024 it was March 29. In 2025 it will be April 18. The Federal Reserve, which clears checks and processes large transfers between banks, closes on this day, which means many routine transactions slow down or wait until the following business day.
If you need to move money or deposit a check on Good Friday, you have options that do not require a branch to be open. Understanding which services stay available and which pause until Monday is the difference between a minor delay and a real problem.
Key Takeaways
- Most traditional banks close their physical branches on Good Friday because it is a federal holiday, but online banking and ATMs usually stay open.
- Checks deposited on Good Friday through a mobile app or ATM will not clear until Tuesday because the Federal Reserve does not process them on the holiday or the following Saturday.
- Wire transfers and ACH transfers do not go through on Good Friday; they process the next business day instead.
- Credit unions and online-only banks may have different holiday schedules, so check your specific bank's website before Good Friday.
- ATM withdrawals and transfers between your own accounts work on Good Friday even when branches are closed.
What stays open on Good Friday
ATMs run 24/7 on Good Friday just as they do on any other day. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks through a mobile app, and transfer money between your own accounts at the ATM without any interruption. The machine does not care that the branch is closed.
Online banking portals and mobile apps also stay open. You can log in, check your balance, pay bills, and set up transfers from home. The transactions you initiate will process, but the timing depends on what type of transaction it is. A transfer between accounts at the same bank usually goes through the same day or by the next business day. A transfer to another bank may wait until Tuesday.
If your bank is an online-only institution like Ally, Charles Schwab, or Discover, you may not have a physical branch to close anyway. Check your bank's website or call their customer service line before Good Friday to confirm their holiday schedule, because some online banks do observe the holiday and some do not.
What does not process on Good Friday
The Federal Reserve closes on Good Friday, which means check clearing stops. A check you deposit on Good Friday through a mobile app, ATM, or branch will not clear until Tuesday at the earliest. The bank receives it on Friday, but the Federal Reserve does not process it until Monday, and then it takes another day to clear. If you are counting on that money to cover a bill or payment, plan for a two-day delay.
Wire transfers and ACH transfers (the electronic transfers used for direct deposit, bill pay, and moving money between banks) do not process on Good Friday. If you send a wire transfer on Friday morning, it will not leave your account until Monday. The same applies to ACH transfers — they queue up and process on the next business day.
If Good Friday falls before a weekend, the delay is even longer. A check deposited on Good Friday will not clear until Wednesday. A wire sent on Friday will not arrive until Tuesday at the earliest.
How to plan ahead if you need money on Good Friday
If you know you will need cash or need to move money around Good Friday, do it on Thursday. Deposit checks, send wire transfers, and set up bill payments before the holiday. This keeps you from running into a situation where you thought money would be available but it is not.
If you need cash on Good Friday itself, use an ATM. You can withdraw as much as your daily limit allows without waiting for the bank to open. If you need to deposit a check and cannot wait until Tuesday for it to clear, ask the person paying you to send a wire transfer or ACH transfer instead, or ask them to wait until Monday to send the check.
For bill payments due on or around Good Friday, pay them a few days early. Do not assume a payment sent on Thursday will arrive by Friday if it is an ACH transfer — it will not. Send it on Wednesday or earlier to be safe.
Credit unions and smaller banks may have different schedules
Credit unions are not required to follow the same federal holiday schedule as banks. Some close on Good Friday and some do not. The same is true for smaller regional banks and community banks. Before Good Friday, log into your credit union's website or call their main number to find out whether they will be open.
If your credit union is closed but you need to deposit a check or withdraw cash, use their ATM network. Most credit unions participate in shared branching networks that let you use another credit union's branch, and most have ATM networks that work across multiple institutions. Check your credit union's website for locations near you.
What happens if you try to do something that requires the Federal Reserve
If you send a wire transfer on Good Friday, your bank will accept the request and deduct the money from your account, but the wire will not actually leave until Monday. The money sits in a holding status over the weekend. If you need the money to arrive at a specific time, this matters — tell the recipient that the wire is coming Monday, not Friday.
If you deposit a check on Good Friday and the check bounces, you will not find out until Tuesday or Wednesday. If you were counting on that money to cover something, you could overdraft your account without realizing it. This is another reason to deposit checks early in the week when possible.
If you have a bill payment set to go out on Good Friday through your bank's bill pay service, it will process on Monday instead. Make sure your due date is not Friday and that you have enough time for the payment to reach the biller by the actual due date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I withdraw money from an ATM on Good Friday?
Yes. ATMs operate 24/7 on Good Friday just like any other day. You can withdraw cash up to your daily limit without any delay or problem. The bank branch may be closed, but the ATM network is not.
Will my direct deposit come through on Good Friday?
No. Direct deposit is an ACH transfer, and the Federal Reserve does not process ACH transfers on Good Friday. If your employer normally deposits on Friday, it will arrive on Monday instead. Check with your employer if you are unsure of their deposit schedule.
What if I need to deposit a check before Good Friday?
Deposit it on Thursday or earlier. If you deposit on Good Friday through a mobile app or ATM, the check will not clear until Tuesday. If you need the money sooner, ask the person who wrote the check to send a wire transfer or ACH transfer instead.
Do online banks close on Good Friday?
Most online banks stay open because they do not have physical branches. However, some do observe the federal holiday and pause certain services. Check your bank's website or app before Good Friday to see their specific holiday schedule.
Can I pay bills on Good Friday?
You can set up bill payments on Good Friday through your online banking portal, but they will not process until Monday. If your bill is due on Friday, set up the payment on Wednesday or earlier to make sure it arrives on time.