Most banks close on Presidents Day, but some branches and services stay available
Presidents Day is a federal holiday, which means most traditional banks — Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and regional institutions — close their physical branches on the third Monday in February. No teller service, no in-person transactions, no safe deposit box access that day.
But "most banks close" is not the same as "all banking stops." Online banking works normally. ATMs work normally. Mobile apps work normally. Wire transfers initiated before the holiday process on schedule. And some banks, particularly credit unions and online-only banks, may operate differently or keep limited locations open.
The real question is not whether banks close — they do — but whether you need something that day and whether your bank has already made it available to you through channels that don't require a person at a desk.
Key Takeaways
- Physical bank branches close on Presidents Day, but ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps continue to work without interruption.
- Wire transfers and ACH transfers initiated before the holiday will process on schedule; those initiated on the holiday itself may delay until the next business day.
- Credit unions and online-only banks sometimes keep limited hours or full service on Presidents Day, so check your institution's specific holiday schedule.
- If you need cash or in-person service on Presidents Day, withdraw money the business day before or use an ATM.
What actually closes on Presidents Day
Federal Reserve offices close on Presidents Day, which means the clearing house for bank-to-bank transfers operates on a holiday schedule. This affects the timing of certain transactions but not their ability to happen at all.
Physical bank branches — the buildings with tellers and loan officers — close. You cannot walk in and deposit a check, withdraw cash from a teller, open an account, or speak to someone about a mortgage. If your only way to do something is to talk to a person in a branch, that thing does not happen on Presidents Day.
Safe deposit boxes are inaccessible. If you need documents from your box on Presidents Day, you are out of luck until Tuesday.
What stays open and works normally
ATMs run on their own power and network. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks (if your ATM accepts mobile deposits), check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts. The ATM does not know or care that it is a federal holiday.
Online banking portals and mobile apps work exactly as they do on any other day. You can check balances, transfer money between your accounts, pay bills, and set up future transactions. These systems run 24/7 and do not close for holidays.
Debit cards work. Credit cards work. Contactless payments work. Any transaction that does not require a person or a physical branch location proceeds normally.
How Presidents Day affects wire transfers and ACH payments
A wire transfer you initiate on Presidents Day itself will not move until the next business day, because the Federal Reserve's wire transfer system (Fedwire) does not operate on federal holidays. If you initiate a wire on Monday, it processes Tuesday. If you initiate it Friday before the holiday, it processes Friday.
ACH transfers — the system that handles direct deposits, bill payments, and transfers between banks — also pause on federal holidays. An ACH payment you schedule for Presidents Day will not leave your account until Tuesday. An ACH payment you schedule for Friday will process Friday.
The key is the initiation date, not the settlement date. If you need money to move by a specific day, initiate the transfer before the holiday. If you initiate it on the holiday, plan for a one-day delay.
Credit unions and online banks may have different hours
Credit unions are not required to follow the same federal holiday schedule as banks. Some credit unions close on Presidents Day; others keep branches open or offer limited hours. Check your credit union's website or call ahead if you think you might need service that day.
Online-only banks like Ally, Charles Schwab Bank, and Marcus have no physical branches, so "closed" does not explore to them in the traditional sense. Their customer service lines may have reduced hours, but you can still access your account, move money, and conduct transactions through their apps and websites.
If you bank with an institution you are unsure about, their website will list holiday hours. Most post this information in the fall for the entire year ahead.
Planning ahead for Presidents Day transactions
If you need cash, withdraw it on Friday. ATMs work on Presidents Day, but if your ATM has a daily withdrawal limit and you need more than that limit, you cannot get additional cash until Tuesday.
If you need to deposit a check, use mobile deposit through your app on Presidents Day itself, or deposit it at an ATM if your bank's ATMs accept deposits. Both work on the holiday. If you need a teller to handle a deposit, do it Friday.
If you need a wire transfer to arrive by a specific date, initiate it before Presidents Day. If you initiate it on the holiday, add one business day to your expected arrival time.
If you need to speak to someone at your bank about an account issue, a loan, or a problem, call or visit on Friday or Tuesday. Monday is not an option.
What to do if you have an urgent banking need on Presidents Day
Use your ATM. Most urgent needs on a holiday are solved by an ATM: you need cash, you need to check your balance, you need to move money between your own accounts, or you need to deposit a check via mobile deposit.
Call your bank's customer service line. Many banks staff their phone lines on federal holidays, even if branches are closed. You may not be able to complete every transaction, but you can ask questions, report fraud, or get information about your account.
If your issue truly cannot wait until Tuesday and your bank is closed, consider whether you can handle it through your online banking portal or app. Many account changes, payment scheduling, and transfers can be done without speaking to anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my debit card on Presidents Day?
Yes. Debit cards, credit cards, and contactless payments work on federal holidays because they do not route through the Federal Reserve or require a bank branch to process. You can use your card at any merchant, ATM, or online retailer on Presidents Day.
Will my direct deposit arrive on Presidents Day?
No. Direct deposits scheduled for Presidents Day will arrive on Tuesday instead, because the ACH system does not process on federal holidays. If your payday falls on Presidents Day, your employer's payroll will deposit the money the next business day.
Can I deposit a check on Presidents Day?
Through mobile deposit or an ATM that accepts deposits, yes. Through a teller, no. If your bank's app or ATM supports check deposits, you can photograph the check or insert it on Presidents Day and it will process normally.
Do online banks close on Presidents Day?
Online banks have no physical branches to close, so you can access your account and move money on Presidents Day through their app or website. Customer service phone lines may have reduced hours, but your account itself remains fully accessible.
What if I need to withdraw more cash than my ATM daily limit allows?
Withdraw what you need on Friday before the holiday. ATM daily limits do not change on federal holidays, and you cannot exceed them by visiting multiple ATMs or calling your bank. Plan ahead if you know you will need a large amount of cash.