The next federal bank holiday depends on today's date, but here's the full 2024 and 2025 schedule
Federal bank holidays are days when most banks close and do not process transactions. If today is between January 2 and February 18, the next one is Presidents' Day on February 19. If you're past that, the next is Memorial Day on May 27, 2024. The schedule repeats each year on the same dates, with the exception of holidays that fall on weekends — when that happens, the observed holiday moves to the nearest weekday.
The reason this matters for refunds and payments is straightforward: money sent on a bank holiday will not clear until the next business day. A tax refund scheduled to arrive on a Monday that is Presidents' Day will actually land on Tuesday. Direct deposits, wire transfers, and check deposits all follow this rule. If you are waiting for a specific payment and a bank holiday falls on or near your expected arrival date, add one business day to your timeline.
Key Takeaways
- Banks close on 11 federal holidays each year, and transactions do not process on those days.
- If a holiday falls on a weekend, the observed holiday moves to Friday (if Saturday) or Monday (if Sunday), and banks close on that day instead.
- Refunds, direct deposits, and payments scheduled to arrive on a bank holiday will clear the next business day instead.
- The 2024 and 2025 bank holiday dates are fixed and repeat annually, so you can plan around them.
The complete 2024 bank holiday schedule
Here are the dates when U.S. banks close for federal holidays in 2024:
| Holiday | Date in 2024 |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Monday, January 1 |
| MLK Jr. Day | Monday, January 15 |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, February 19 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 27 |
| Juneteenth | Wednesday, June 19 |
| Independence Day | Thursday, July 4 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 2 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 14 |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11 |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 28 |
| Christmas | Wednesday, December 25 |
In 2024, most holidays fall on weekdays, so the observed dates match the actual dates. The exception is if a holiday falls on a Sunday — in that case, the following Monday is observed. None of the 2024 holidays fall on Sunday, so no shifts occur this year.
The 2025 bank holiday schedule and weekend shifts
In 2025, two holidays fall on weekends, which means the observed dates shift:
| Holiday | Actual Date | Observed Date (when banks close) |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Wednesday, January 1 | Wednesday, January 1 |
| MLK Jr. Day | Monday, January 20 | Monday, January 20 |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, February 17 | Monday, February 17 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 26 | Monday, May 26 |
| Juneteenth | Sunday, June 19 | Monday, June 20 |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 4 | Friday, July 4 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 1 | Monday, September 1 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 13 | Monday, October 13 |
| Veterans Day | Saturday, November 11 | Friday, November 10 |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 27 | Thursday, November 27 |
| Christmas | Wednesday, December 25 | Wednesday, December 25 |
In 2025, Juneteenth falls on Sunday, so banks observe it on Monday, June 20. Veterans Day falls on Saturday, so banks observe it on Friday, November 10. These shifts matter if you are tracking a payment arrival date — use the observed date, not the calendar date.
How bank holidays affect refund and payment timelines
When you receive a tax refund, stimulus payment, insurance refund, or business payment, the timeline assumes business days only. A refund that typically takes 5 to 7 business days will not count a bank holiday as a business day. If your refund is scheduled to arrive on a Tuesday that is Presidents' Day, it will not clear until Wednesday.
This is most important for refunds that arrive near the end of a holiday week. If a refund is due to arrive on Friday and Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, the refund will not clear until Monday. The same rule applies to direct deposits from employers, government payments, and wire transfers. Check your expected arrival date against the bank holiday calendar before you assume the money is late.
Some payment systems allow you to choose your delivery date. If you have that option and a bank holiday falls on your target date, move it forward by one day. If you are tracking a refund status online and the system shows an expected arrival date that is a bank holiday, contact the issuer to confirm whether the date will shift.
What happens if a payment is scheduled for a bank holiday
Most payment systems are automated and will not send money on a bank holiday. Instead, the transaction queues and processes on the next business day. You will not see the money disappear and reappear — it simply arrives one day later than the original estimate.
Some systems send the payment the business day before the holiday to avoid the delay. Others hold it until after the holiday. The behavior depends on the issuer. The IRS, for example, typically sends refunds the business day before a holiday if the scheduled date falls on a holiday. Insurance companies and employers vary in their approach.
If you are waiting for a payment and the expected arrival date is a bank holiday, do not assume something went wrong. Wait until the next business day to contact the issuer. If the money does not arrive by then, you have a legitimate reason to follow up.
State holidays and bank closures
Federal bank holidays apply to all banks nationwide. Some states observe additional holidays, but those do not typically close federal banks. For example, some states observe Confederate Memorial Day or Cesar Chavez Day, but most national banks remain open on those dates.
If you bank with a state-chartered bank or a credit union, check with your institution directly about state-specific closures. Credit unions sometimes close on state holidays that national banks do not. Your bank's website or customer service line will list all closure dates for your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my direct deposit arrive on a bank holiday?
No. Direct deposits scheduled for a bank holiday will process on the next business day instead. If your employer's payroll system is set to deposit on a Friday that is Independence Day, the money will arrive on Monday. Check your pay stub or employer portal to see the actual deposit date.
Does a bank holiday delay my tax refund?
Only if your refund is scheduled to arrive on the holiday itself. The IRS typically sends refunds the business day before a holiday to avoid delays. If the IRS website shows an expected arrival date that is a bank holiday, contact them to confirm the actual date, or assume it will arrive the day before.
What if I need to deposit a check on a bank holiday?
You can deposit a check using a mobile app or ATM on a bank holiday, but it will not clear until the next business day. The bank does not process deposits on holidays, so the check will sit in your account as pending until the following business day.
Do online banks close on bank holidays?
Online banks do not have physical branches, so you can access your account on a bank holiday. However, transfers and payments may not process until the next business day. Check your bank's website for their specific holiday schedule.
Can I wire money on a bank holiday?
Most banks do not process wire transfers on federal bank holidays. If you initiate a wire on a holiday, it will queue and send on the next business day. Some banks allow you to schedule a wire in advance for a specific date, but it will not send if that date is a holiday.