Banks are closed on 11 federal holidays in 2026. These are the same holidays observed by the Federal Reserve — if the Fed is closed, your bank branch is almost certainly closed too. ATMs, mobile banking, and online banking work every day of the year, including all holidays. The main practical impact is on ACH transfers, direct deposits, and wire transfers, which do not process on holidays.
Planning around bank holidays is straightforward once you know the schedule. This guide covers every closed date in 2026, how each type of transaction is affected, and what to do when a payday or payment deadline lands on a holiday.
2026 Bank Holiday Calendar
The Federal Reserve publishes the official list of bank holidays each year. Banks are legally required to observe these dates for ACH processing. Branch closures follow the same schedule at virtually all US banks.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Day | Banks Closed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Thursday | Yes | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday | Yes | Always 3rd Monday of January |
| Presidents’ Day | February 16 | Monday | Yes | Always 3rd Monday of February |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday | Yes | Always last Monday of May |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19 | Friday | Yes | — |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Saturday | Yes | Observed Friday, July 3 |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday | Yes | Always 1st Monday of September |
| Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day | October 12 | Monday | Yes | Always 2nd Monday of October |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wednesday | Yes | — |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Thursday | Yes | Always 4th Thursday of November |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday | Yes | — |
Key 2026 note: Independence Day falls on a Saturday, so the observed bank holiday is Friday, July 3. If you have a payment or paycheck scheduled for July 4 or July 3, expect it to shift.
What’s Open and What’s Closed on Bank Holidays
Not everything stops on a bank holiday. The closures that matter most are on the back-end payment processing side — not the consumer-facing tools you use every day.
| Service | Available on Holidays? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bank branches | Closed | All major banks except TD Bank on select holidays |
| ATMs | Open 24/7 | Cash withdrawals available at all times |
| Mobile banking app | Open 24/7 | Balances, transfers between own accounts, mobile deposit |
| Online banking | Open 24/7 | Same as mobile |
| Customer service phone | Varies | Some banks offer 24/7 phone; expect longer wait times |
| ACH transfers | Do not process | Next business day settlement |
| Wire transfers | Do not process | Next business day; send the day before |
| Direct deposits | Do not process | Most employers pay the business day before |
| Debit / credit card purchases | Process normally | Merchants handle these; not affected by bank closures |
| Zelle | Send immediately; settlement next day | Funds may appear instantly but bank settlement follows |
| Venmo / Cash App | Instant between users | Bank settlement follows next business day |
How Holidays Affect Direct Deposits
This is the question most people actually care about — will my paycheck be late if payday falls on a holiday?
The short answer: no, your paycheck will not be late. Most employers and all government agencies process payroll early when a payday lands on a federal holiday. You typically receive your deposit the business day before the holiday, not the day after.
Here’s how it works for each common scenario:
| Situation | What Happens | Example (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Payday is a federal holiday | Employer pays the business day before | Payday July 4 → deposit July 2 (Thursday) |
| Payday is Saturday | Most employers pay the Friday before | Payday Aug 1 → deposit July 31 |
| Payday is Sunday | Most employers pay the Friday before | — |
| Payday is Monday holiday | Deposit arrives the Friday before | Payday May 25 → deposit May 22 |
| Government payment on holiday | Paid the business day before | SSA, VA, Treasury follow same rule |
The key word is “most employers.” A small number of companies — particularly those with manual payroll processes — may not adjust, meaning the deposit arrives the day after the holiday instead. If you’re not sure, check with your HR or payroll department before the holiday approaches — and check what time your bank typically posts direct deposits so you’re not refreshing your app at 2 AM unnecessarily.
How Holidays Affect ACH Transfers and Bill Pay
ACH transfers — which include bank-to-bank transfers, online bill pay, and scheduled payments — do not process on federal holidays. The ACH network, operated by NACHA and the Federal Reserve, has a fixed holiday schedule.
What this means in practice:
- If you schedule a bill payment for a holiday, it will be sent the next business day
- If a payment is due on a holiday, your bank sends it the business day before — but check your specific bank’s policy on whether they count the holiday or the day before as the “due date”
- A transfer initiated the day before a holiday may settle the day after if the bank’s cutoff time has passed
| Scenario | What Happens |
|---|---|
| ACH transfer scheduled on a holiday | Processes next business day |
| Bill pay scheduled on a holiday | Sent next business day; check due date rules |
| Transfer initiated after cutoff the day before | May not process until after the holiday |
| Check deposit via mobile or ATM on holiday | Accepted, but clearing starts next business day |
Practical rule: For any time-sensitive payment — rent, loan payment, tax deadline — schedule it two business days before any holiday. One day gives you no margin if the cutoff time passes before you act. Standard ACH transfers take 1–3 business days even without a holiday in the mix.
Bank-by-Bank Holiday Hours
Most major banks follow the Federal Reserve schedule exactly. TD Bank is the notable exception, staying open on several federal holidays that close every other major bank.
| Holiday | Chase | Bank of America | Wells Fargo | Capital One | TD Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| MLK Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Presidents’ Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Memorial Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Juneteenth | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Independence Day (Jul 3, observed) | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Labor Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Columbus Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Veterans Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Thanksgiving | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Christmas | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
For branch-specific hours and weekend hours at individual banks, see:
Near-Holiday Dates: Reduced Hours and Early Closings
Several dates near holidays aren’t official federal holidays but commonly see reduced branch hours. Plan around these if you need in-person banking.
| Date | 2026 Date | Banks Open? | Typical Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) | November 27 | Most open | Reduced hours — often 9 AM – 1 PM |
| Christmas Eve | December 24 | Open | Early close — often noon to 2 PM |
| New Year’s Eve | December 31 | Open | Early close — often noon to 2 PM |
| Good Friday | April 3 | Open | Normal hours (not a federal holiday) |
| Easter Sunday | April 5 | Closed | Banks are never open on Sundays |
| Election Day | November 3 | Open | Normal hours |
For specific near-holiday closures, always check with your branch directly. Hours vary significantly by location. You can find branch-specific hours on your bank’s website or through bank customer service numbers.
Planning Ahead: What to Do Before Each Major Holiday
Before Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Presidents’ Day (3-Day Weekends)
Three-day holiday weekends are the most disruptive because ACH doesn’t process on Saturday or Sunday either — meaning a payment submitted Friday afternoon may not settle until Tuesday.
- Submit ACH payments by Thursday for a Monday holiday weekend
- Request wire transfers by Wednesday — most banks have an earlier cutoff before long weekends
- Withdraw cash Thursday if you need it over the weekend
Before Thanksgiving
- Direct deposits normally scheduled for Thursday (Thanksgiving) will arrive Wednesday, November 25
- Bill payments due on Thanksgiving should be submitted no later than Tuesday, November 24
- Black Friday branch hours are reduced — use mobile deposit or ATMs if you need to deposit checks
Before Christmas and New Year’s
December has two holidays close together, which can compress the number of processing days.
- Christmas falls on Friday, December 25 — so the week of December 22 has only 3 business days (Mon/Tue/Wed)
- New Year’s Day is Thursday, January 1, 2027 — any payments scheduled for January 1 will process January 2
- If your rent or mortgage is due January 1, submit payment by December 30
The Fastest Way to Check If Your Bank Is Open Today
If you’re reading this on or near a holiday and just need a quick answer, the are banks open today page is updated for the current date and covers all major banks.
For specific holiday questions:
- Are banks open on MLK Day?
- Are banks open on Presidents’ Day?
- Are banks open on Veterans Day?
- Are banks open the day after Thanksgiving?
Bottom Line
Banks close on 11 federal holidays in 2026 — the same days the Federal Reserve is closed. Your ATM, mobile app, and online banking work on every single one of those days. The only real impact is on ACH processing (direct deposits, bill pay, transfers) which shifts to the next business day.
The most important habit: schedule any time-sensitive payment at least two business days before a holiday, and check with your employer about early payroll if a payday falls on a holiday. For deposit timing specifics, the direct deposit time guide covers every major bank’s processing window.
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