The day after Thanksgiving is a regular business day for banks

The day after Thanksgiving — the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November — is not a federal bank holiday. Banks are open for normal business hours. You can deposit checks, withdraw cash, transfer money between accounts, and conduct any other banking transaction you would on a Monday or Wednesday.

The confusion happens because Thanksgiving Day itself is a federal holiday, and many people have the day off work. When a major holiday falls on Thursday, the following Friday often feels like part of an extended weekend. But from a banking standpoint, only Thanksgiving Day closes the banks. The day after is business as usual.

Key Takeaways

  • Banks are open on the Friday after Thanksgiving and operate on their regular schedule.
  • Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November) is the federal holiday that closes banks, not the day after.
  • If you need to deposit checks or handle banking tasks over the long weekend, plan to do them on Friday or wait until Monday.
  • Some individual banks may have reduced hours on the day after Thanksgiving, so check with your specific bank if you need to visit a branch.

Why banks close on Thanksgiving but not the day after

Federal law designates specific days as bank holidays — days when all federally regulated banks must close. Thanksgiving Day is one of them. The day after Thanksgiving is not on that list, even though many people have it off as a paid holiday through their employer.

The distinction matters because it is set by federal statute, not by what most people happen to be doing. Congress decides which days are federal bank holidays. Thanksgiving is included. The Friday after is not, regardless of how many employers give workers the day off.

What you can and cannot do on the day after Thanksgiving

Since banks are open, you can do anything you normally would: deposit checks at an ATM or teller window, withdraw cash, move money between your accounts, pay bills online, or explore for a loan. If you use mobile banking or online banking, those services work the same way they do any other day — they are not affected by bank holidays at all.

The only thing you cannot do is visit a physical bank branch if that particular bank chooses to close its locations. Some banks stay open on the day after Thanksgiving with full hours. Others reduce their hours or close some branches while keeping others open. This varies by bank and by location, so if you need to visit a branch in person, contact your bank directly to confirm.

Planning around the Thanksgiving weekend

If you have banking tasks that require a teller or a branch visit, Friday after Thanksgiving is your opportunity. You will not have another business day until Monday. ATMs and online banking work over the weekend, so time-sensitive transfers or deposits can go through those channels.

If you are expecting a check deposit or a transfer to clear, remember that the banking system does not process transactions on Thanksgiving Day itself. A check deposited on Friday will not begin processing until Friday (or possibly Monday, depending on the bank's processing schedule). Plan accordingly if you need funds by a specific date.

Other holidays that do close banks

Thanksgiving is one of eleven federal bank holidays. The others are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas Day. Banks close on all of these days.

The day after Christmas, like the day after Thanksgiving, is not a federal bank holiday unless it falls on a Monday and the bank observes it as a substitute holiday (which some do, but not all). Check with your bank if you are unsure about a specific date.

What to do if your bank has reduced hours

Call your bank's customer service line or check their website to find out their specific hours on the day after Thanksgiving. Many banks post holiday hours weeks in advance. If your branch is closed or has limited hours, you can still use ATMs, online banking, and mobile banking to handle most tasks.

If you need to speak to someone at the bank, Friday morning is usually less crowded than Friday afternoon, since many people wait until the last minute before a long weekend. If you can visit early in the day, you may have a shorter wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I deposit a check on the day after Thanksgiving?

Yes. You can deposit at an ATM or at a teller window if your branch is open. Checks deposited on Friday will begin processing on Friday, though the funds may not be available until the following business day depending on your bank's policy.

Will my direct deposit go through on the day after Thanksgiving?

Direct deposits scheduled for Friday after Thanksgiving will process normally. Your employer's payroll system sends the deposit on their schedule, and the banking system processes it on Friday even though Thanksgiving was the day before.

Are ATMs open on the day after Thanksgiving?

Yes. ATMs operate 24/7 regardless of bank holidays. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit checks at ATMs on the day after Thanksgiving just as you would any other day.

What if I need to wire money on the day after Thanksgiving?

Wire transfers can be sent on Friday, but they will not reach the receiving bank until the next business day (Monday) because the receiving bank is closed on Friday. If timing is critical, send the wire early Friday morning.

Do credit unions close on the day after Thanksgiving?

Credit unions are not required to close on federal bank holidays the way banks are, though many do. Check with your specific credit union about their holiday schedule, as it varies by institution.