Check the Federal Reserve's holiday calendar for today's date

The fastest way to know if today is a federal holiday for banks is to look at the Federal Reserve's official holiday schedule. The Federal Reserve publishes a calendar each year listing every day banks close. You can find it on the Federal Reserve's website by searching "Federal Reserve holiday schedule" and the current year.

Banks do not close on every federal holiday. The federal government observes ten holidays, but banks only close on nine of them. Veterans Day is a federal holiday, but most banks stay open. This matters because if you need to deposit a check or transfer money, knowing which days banks are actually closed prevents a wasted trip.

If you cannot reach the Federal Reserve website right now, call your own bank's customer service line. They can tell you in seconds whether they are open today. The number is on your debit card or bank statement.

Key Takeaways

  • Banks close on nine federal holidays: New Year's Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
  • Veterans Day is a federal holiday but banks remain open, which surprises many people.
  • The Federal Reserve publishes an official holiday calendar each year showing exact closure dates.
  • Your bank's customer service line can confirm whether they are open today in under a minute.
  • Some banks may close on additional days beyond federal holidays, so checking with your specific bank is the most reliable method.

The nine holidays when banks close nationwide

Banks close on the same nine days every year, though the exact date shifts when the holiday falls on a weekend. 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 (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in November), and Christmas (December 25) all trigger bank closures.

When a holiday lands on a Saturday, banks typically close on Friday instead. When it lands on a Sunday, they close on Monday. The Federal Reserve's calendar shows the observed date for each holiday, which is what matters for your bank.

Some banks may also close on additional days beyond these nine. Credit unions sometimes observe different holidays. Regional banks occasionally add a local holiday. This is why calling your specific bank remains the surest method if you need to know for certain.

Why Veterans Day does not close banks

Veterans Day (November 11) is a federal holiday, but the Federal Reserve does not require banks to close. The Federal Reserve sets the closure schedule for the banking system, and it has never included Veterans Day. This creates confusion because government offices close, but your bank will be open.

If you have a transaction scheduled for Veterans Day, your bank will process it normally. You can deposit checks, withdraw cash, and move money between accounts. The only exception would be if your specific bank has chosen to close anyway, which is rare but possible—so a quick call to confirm costs nothing.

What happens to transactions on bank holidays

Transactions you initiate on a bank holiday do not process until the next business day. If you deposit a check on a holiday, it enters the system the following day. Wire transfers, ACH transfers, and bill payments all wait until banks reopen. This is why the timing of a holiday matters: a deposit on Friday before a three-day weekend will not clear until Tuesday.

Debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals work normally on bank holidays because those systems run 24/7. You can get cash from an ATM and spend money with your debit card. Only transactions that require bank staff or the banking system itself to process are delayed.

How to plan around bank holidays

If you need money to clear by a specific date, count backward from that date and avoid depositing on a day that would push the processing into a bank holiday. A check deposited on a Thursday before a Monday holiday will not clear until Wednesday. If you need the money by Wednesday, deposit it the previous week instead.

For bill payments and transfers, submit them at least one business day before a holiday if the payment has a deadline. Many online banking systems let you schedule transactions in advance, so you can set up a payment to go out the day before a holiday rather than on the holiday itself.

If you are waiting for a refund or payment to arrive, bank holidays add one day to the timeline. A refund that normally takes three business days will take four if a holiday falls within that window.

Where to find the complete 2024 and 2025 bank holiday schedule

The Federal Reserve publishes its holiday schedule on federalreserve.gov. Search the site for "holiday schedule" and you will find a page listing every closure date for the current and upcoming year. The schedule is also available through your bank's website, usually under a "Holiday Hours" or "Branch Locator" section.

If you use a credit union, check your credit union's website instead, as some credit unions observe different holidays than banks. The same applies if you bank with an online-only bank—they may have their own closure schedule posted in their help section or FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my ATM on a bank holiday?

Yes. ATMs run 24/7 and are not affected by bank holidays. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts on any holiday. Deposits made at an ATM will process the next business day.

What if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?

Banks observe the holiday on the nearest weekday. If a holiday is on Saturday, banks close on Friday. If it is on Sunday, they close on Monday. The Federal Reserve's calendar shows the observed date for each year.

Do online banks close on federal holidays?

Online banks do not have physical branches, so they do not "close" in the traditional sense. However, they still follow the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule for processing transactions. Deposits and transfers submitted on a holiday will process the next business day.

Will my paycheck deposit on a bank holiday?

Direct deposits scheduled for a bank holiday will process the next business day. If your employer sends your paycheck on a Friday before a Monday holiday, it will not hit your account until Tuesday. Check with your employer about their payroll schedule around holidays.

Is the stock market open when banks are closed?

No. The stock market closes on the same federal holidays as banks. If banks are closed, the stock market is also closed, and you cannot trade stocks that day.