A bank holiday in the UK is a day when banks, government offices, and most businesses close, even though it is not a religious observance or a major national event
Bank holidays are official public holidays set by law. When one falls on a weekday, banks shut down, post offices close, and most government services stop. Stock markets do not trade. If you are waiting for a payment, a transfer, or a government refund, a bank holiday can delay it by one or more days.
The UK has between eight and ten bank holidays each year, depending on which part of the country you live in. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have a slightly different calendar. Some holidays are the same across all four nations — New Year's Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and Easter Monday. Others are unique to one region.
Unlike the United States, where federal holidays are tied to historical events or figures, UK bank holidays often have no particular meaning beyond being a day off. They exist because the law says they do.
Key Takeaways
- Bank holidays close banks, post offices, and government offices, which can delay payments and refunds by one or more working days.
- The UK has eight to ten bank holidays per year, and the dates vary between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
- If a payment or refund is due on a bank holiday, it usually arrives on the next working day instead.
- Payments made on a bank holiday may not clear until the day after, so plan ahead if you need money by a specific date.
When bank holidays happen and which ones affect your money
The main bank holidays that affect financial services across the UK are New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday and Easter Monday (dates vary each year), Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December).
Scotland and Northern Ireland have additional holidays that England and Wales do not observe. Scotland has a New Year's Day holiday on 2 January and celebrates St Andrew's Day (30 November). Northern Ireland observes St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July). England and Wales have the Summer Bank Holiday but Scotland calls theirs the Summer Holiday and dates it differently.
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government usually moves the holiday to the following Monday. This is called a "substitute bank holiday" or "in lieu" day. For example, if Christmas Day is a Saturday, Boxing Day moves to Monday. This means banks and post offices close on Monday instead, which can shift when your payments arrive.
How bank holidays affect refunds and payments
If you are waiting for a tax refund, a business refund, or a government payment, a bank holiday can add one or more days to the timeline. Banks do not process transfers on bank holidays, so a payment scheduled to arrive on a bank holiday will arrive on the next working day instead.
This matters most if you are counting on money by a specific date. If your tax refund is due on a Friday and that Friday is a bank holiday, the money will not arrive until the following Monday. If Monday is also a bank holiday (which can happen around Easter or Christmas), the refund waits until Tuesday.
Some organisations, including HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs), publish refund timelines that already account for bank holidays. Others do not. If you are tracking a refund and the expected date falls on or just before a bank holiday, assume an extra day or two.
How to check if a date is a bank holiday
The UK government publishes an official list of bank holidays on GOV.UK. You can search by nation — England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland — and see the exact dates for the current and next year. The list includes both fixed holidays (like Christmas) and moveable ones (like Easter).
If you are waiting for a payment and want to know whether it will be delayed, check the government's bank holiday calendar first. Then count forward from the expected arrival date. If the date falls on a bank holiday or the day after one, add one or two working days to your estimate.
Many banks and building societies also publish their own holiday calendars on their websites, showing when they will be closed. Some larger institutions stay open on certain bank holidays, though this is rare. If you need to visit a branch or speak to someone by phone on a bank holiday, check with your bank first.
What stays open on bank holidays
Not everything closes on a bank holiday. Supermarkets, shops, restaurants, and most hospitality businesses stay open, though some may have reduced hours. Post offices close completely, but some supermarket post office counters may operate on a limited schedule — this varies by location.
Online banking and ATMs work on bank holidays. You can check your balance, transfer money between your own accounts, and withdraw cash from a machine. However, transfers to other people's accounts or payments to businesses may not process until the next working day.
Government services like HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions, and local councils are closed on bank holidays. If you need to contact them, you will have to wait until the next working day. Some services offer online portals that work 24/7, but phone lines and in-person appointments are not available.
Planning around bank holidays when you are waiting for money
If you have submitted a tax return and are waiting for a refund, check HMRC's bank holiday dates before you assume the money is late. The same applies to business refunds, insurance payouts, and government payments like Universal Credit or tax credits.
When you contact an organisation about a delayed payment, mention the bank holiday dates. Many customer service teams will automatically add extra days to their estimates if a bank holiday falls within the expected window. If they do not, ask them to confirm the date and account for holidays themselves.
If you need money by a specific date and a bank holiday is coming up, do not wait until the last moment to chase a refund. Contact the organisation at least a week before, confirm the expected date, and ask whether they have accounted for bank holidays. If the date is cutting it close, ask whether they can expedite the payment or send it earlier.
What to do if a payment does not arrive after a bank holiday
If a payment was due to arrive on a bank holiday and it has not shown up by the next working day, wait one more day. Bank systems can be slow to process after a holiday, and some payments take an extra 24 hours to clear.
If the money still has not arrived after two working days past the bank holiday, contact the organisation that sent it. Have the following information ready: the date you submitted your request or claim, the expected payment date, the amount, and the reference number if you have one. Ask them to confirm whether the payment was sent and, if so, when it should arrive.
If they confirm the payment was sent but has not arrived, ask them to trace it. Some organisations can contact your bank on your behalf to check whether the transfer is stuck in the system. If it is, they may be able to cancel it and resend it, or your bank may be able to locate it and credit it to your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get paid extra if I work on a bank holiday?
That depends on your employment contract and your employer's policy. Some employers pay time-and-a-half or double time for bank holiday work. Others give you a day off in lieu instead. Check your contract or ask your employer what their bank holiday pay policy is.
Can a company refuse to give me a day off on a bank holiday?
Yes, if your job requires you to work on bank holidays — for example, if you work in retail, hospitality, healthcare, or emergency services. However, you must receive either extra pay, a day off in lieu, or a combination of both. The exact terms should be in your contract.
If a bank holiday falls on a Saturday, do I get the Monday off instead?
If you work a standard Monday-to-Friday week, yes. The government moves the bank holiday to the following Monday, and most employers give that day off instead. If you work weekends, your employer should give you a different day off or extra pay. Check your contract or ask your employer.
Will my online banking work on a bank holiday?
Yes. You can log in, check your balance, and move money between your own accounts. However, payments to other people or businesses may not process until the next working day. Transfers between banks usually take longer on or just after a bank holiday.
How long does a payment take if it is sent just before a bank holiday?
If a payment is sent on the working day before a bank holiday, it may not clear until two or three days later, depending on how many consecutive bank holidays follow. Always assume an extra day or two if a bank holiday is in the timeline. If you need money urgently, ask the organisation to send it earlier.