Check your bank's website or call them directly for today's status

The fastest way to know if today is a banking holiday is to look at your bank's website or mobile app — most show a banner on the homepage when they are closed. If you need to know right now, call your bank's customer service line; they will tell you when ready whether branches are open and whether transactions are processing.

Your specific bank may observe additional holidays beyond the federal list, or may have different hours on certain days. Some banks stay open on days the Federal Reserve is closed, and some close on days the Fed is open. This is why checking your own bank first is the most reliable method.

Key Takeaways

  • Your bank's website or app will show whether branches are open today, and this is faster and more accurate than a general holiday list.
  • The Federal Reserve publishes an official list of banking holidays, but your specific bank may not observe all of them or may observe additional ones.
  • Payments and check clearing do not process on federal banking holidays, even if your branch is physically open.
  • Calling your bank's customer service line will give you an when ready answer about today's status and whether transactions are being processed.

The ten federal banking holidays that stop payment processing

The Federal Reserve closes on ten days each year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving Day. Christmas Day is also a federal banking holiday. On these days, the Fed does not process payments between banks, and checks do not clear.

When a banking holiday falls on a Saturday, the Fed observes it on Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, the Fed observes it on Monday. This shift affects when payments actually move, so a payment you send on a Friday before a Monday holiday will not clear until Tuesday.

Not every bank closes its branches on every federal holiday. Some banks stay open on certain holidays for customer service, though they still cannot process transactions through the Fed. If you need to deposit a check or withdraw cash on a holiday, you may be able to use an ATM or mobile deposit, but the transaction will not clear until the next business day.

Why knowing today's holiday status matters for your money

If today is a banking holiday, any payment you send will not leave your account until the next business day, and any payment coming to you will not arrive until then either. This matters most if you are paying a bill that is due today — the payment will be late from the bank's perspective, even if you sent it before the important date.

Wire transfers, ACH payments, and check clearing all stop on banking holidays. If you need money to move urgently, you need to know whether today is a holiday before you send it. Some payment systems like Venmo or PayPal may still process on holidays, but the underlying bank transfers will not clear until the next business day.

ATMs and online banking stay open on holidays, but deposits made on a holiday will not be available until the next business day. If you are counting on a deposit to clear today so you can make a payment, and today is a holiday, you will need to find another way to cover the payment.

How payment timing changes when a holiday falls on different days of the week

If a banking holiday falls on a weekday, payments sent that day will not process until the next business day. If the holiday is on Monday, a payment sent on Friday will not clear until Tuesday. If the holiday is on Friday, a payment sent Thursday will not clear until Monday.

When a holiday falls on a weekend, the Fed observes it on the nearest weekday. If Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the Fed closes on Friday instead. If it falls on a Sunday, the Fed closes on Monday. This means a payment sent on the day before the observed holiday will be delayed by two calendar days, not one.

Some holidays cluster near each other — Thanksgiving and Christmas are less than five weeks apart. If you have bills due in late November or December, plan to send payments earlier in the month to avoid holiday delays.

How to plan ahead when holidays affect your payments

If you know a banking holiday is coming, send payments at least one business day early. A payment sent on the business day before a holiday will clear on the business day after the holiday, not on the holiday itself. If the holiday is on a Monday, send your payment on Friday.

Some bills have a grace period of a few days after the due date, and some creditors know that payments sent before a holiday will arrive late. If you are cutting it close, call the creditor and let them know you are sending the payment before the holiday and ask whether they will count it as on-time.

For recurring payments like mortgage or loan payments, set them up to process on a date that is never a holiday — the 15th of the month, for example, is rarely a banking holiday. Automatic payments scheduled for a holiday will usually process on the next business day instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my direct deposit come through if today is a banking holiday?

No. Direct deposits scheduled for a banking holiday will arrive on the next business day instead. If your paycheck is due today and today is a holiday, it will be in your account tomorrow. If tomorrow is also a holiday (rare but possible), it will arrive the day after.

Can I use my debit card or ATM on a banking holiday?

Yes. ATMs and debit cards work on banking holidays because they do not require the bank's payment processing systems to be running. Deposits made at an ATM on a holiday will not be available until the next business day, but you can withdraw cash when ready.

What if I send a payment online on a banking holiday?

The payment will not leave your account until the next business day. Most online banking systems will show you the actual processing date when you schedule the payment, so you can see whether it will be delayed by a holiday before you confirm it.

Do credit card companies observe banking holidays?

Credit card payments sent on a banking holiday will not be processed until the next business day. If your payment is due today and today is a holiday, contact your credit card company to ask whether they will waive late fees if the payment arrives tomorrow.

Is my bank open today if it is a federal banking holiday?

Some banks stay open on federal holidays for limited hours or customer service, but you cannot complete transactions that require the Federal Reserve to be open. Call your bank or check their website to see their specific holiday hours.