Bank holidays change week to week, so the answer depends on which week you mean and which country you're in

In the United States, there are 10 federal holidays each year when most banks close. They fall on the same dates every year — except for a few that move around. If you're asking whether a specific day this week was a bank holiday, the fastest way to know is to check your bank's website or call the branch directly. They post holiday schedules months in advance.

The reason you're asking probably matters: you might need to know whether a deposit will clear today, whether you can visit a branch, or whether a payment important date shifts. Each of those has a different answer depending on what actually happened this week.

Key Takeaways

  • The 10 U.S. federal bank holidays are set by law and fall on the same dates each year, though some move to the nearest weekday if they land on a weekend.
  • Your bank's website shows its holiday schedule for the full year, including which days branches will be closed and whether online services will work.
  • If a holiday fell on a weekday this week, deposits made that day typically won't clear until the next business day.
  • Some banks close on holidays that others stay open for, so checking your specific bank matters more than checking a general federal list.

The 10 federal bank holidays and when they occur

New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January), Presidents' Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (first Monday in September), Columbus Day (second Monday in October), Veterans Day (November 11), and Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) are the federal holidays when U.S. banks close.

Christmas Day (December 25) is also a federal holiday when banks close. If any of these dates fall on a Saturday, most banks observe the holiday on Friday instead. If one falls on a Sunday, they observe it on Monday.

This means Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day move to a different date each year because they're tied to a specific weekday rather than a fixed date. The others stay on the same calendar date but may shift to Friday or Monday depending on what day of the week they land on.

How to find out what your bank did this week

Your bank's website has a holiday schedule page, usually under "Hours" or "Locations." It shows which days your specific bank closed this year. Call your branch directly if you can't find it online — they can tell you in 30 seconds whether they were closed on a particular day.

Some banks close on all 10 federal holidays. Others close on fewer. A few large banks stay open on some holidays but close on others. The federal government doesn't require banks to close on federal holidays — it's up to each bank to decide. So checking the general federal holiday list isn't enough; you need to know what your bank actually did.

Why it matters whether a holiday fell this week

If you deposited a check on a day your bank was closed, it won't clear until the next business day. If you made a bill payment online on a holiday, it might not process until the day after. If you tried to visit a branch and it was closed, you'll need to go back when they reopen.

If a payment important date fell on a holiday, most creditors and lenders automatically extend it to the next business day. But it's worth confirming with whoever you owe money to, because some don't. The same goes for automatic payments — they usually process on the next business day if the scheduled day was a holiday, but check with your bank to be sure.

What happens to online banking and ATMs on bank holidays

ATMs work on bank holidays — they're machines, not people. You can withdraw money and check your balance 24 hours a day. Online banking (checking your account, moving money between your own accounts, paying bills) also works on holidays for most banks.

What doesn't work is talking to a person. Branches are closed. Customer service phone lines may have reduced hours or be closed entirely. If you need to speak to someone at your bank about something that happened this week, you'll have to wait until the next business day.

If you're not sure which day was a holiday

Look at your bank statement or your online banking history. Transactions that cleared on a holiday will usually show a timestamp from that day, but deposits won't show as "available" until the next business day. If you see a gap in processing between two days, a holiday probably fell in between.

You can also cross-reference this week's dates against the federal holiday list above. If none of those dates fell on a weekday this week, there was no federal bank holiday. If one did, your bank was likely closed — but check their schedule to be certain.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I deposited a check on a bank holiday, when will it clear?

It will clear on the next business day after the holiday. So if you deposited on a Monday holiday, it clears Tuesday. If you deposited on Friday before a Monday holiday, it clears Tuesday. Check your bank's deposit policy — some require deposits to be made before a certain time to clear the next day.

Do all banks close on the same holidays?

No. Banks must close on federal holidays, but some close on additional days. A few large banks stay open on some federal holidays. Check your specific bank's schedule rather than assuming all banks do the same thing.

Will my automatic payment go through on a bank holiday?

Usually it will process on the next business day instead. But some banks and billers handle this differently, so contact your bank or the company you're paying to confirm how they handle holidays.

Can I use my debit card on a bank holiday?

Yes. Debit cards work at any merchant or ATM on a holiday. You can also use online banking to check your balance and move money between your own accounts. You just can't visit a branch or speak to a banker.