Most banks are closed on December 26 in the United States, but the reason depends on where you live

December 26 is not a federal holiday in the United States, so banks in most states operate on their normal schedule that day. However, if December 26 falls on a Monday, some banks may still be closed because they observed Christmas on the preceding Friday or Saturday. The key is whether your bank chose to observe the holiday on the actual date or moved it to the nearest weekday.

In Canada, December 26 is Boxing Day and a statutory holiday, so all banks are closed. If you are banking across the border or have accounts in both countries, this matters for your timing.

The safest approach is to check your specific bank's holiday schedule rather than assume. Most banks publish their December closures in November, and you can find them on the bank's website under "Hours" or "Holiday Schedule", or by calling the branch directly.

Key Takeaways

  • December 26 is a regular business day for U.S. banks unless your bank chose to observe Christmas on that date instead of December 25.
  • If December 25 falls on a weekend, banks may close on the nearest weekday — usually the following Monday — instead of the actual holiday.
  • Canadian banks close on December 26 for Boxing Day, so cross-border transfers may be delayed.
  • Your bank's specific holiday schedule is published on its website or available by phone, and it varies by institution.
  • ATMs and mobile banking work on December 26 even if the physical branch is closed, but transfers between institutions may not process until the next business day.

How the Christmas holiday affects bank closures around December 26

When Christmas falls on a Friday, most banks close on Friday, December 25, and reopen on Monday, December 27. December 26 (Saturday) is not a banking day anyway, so you would not notice the closure. However, if you need to deposit a check or move money on Saturday the 26th, it will not process until Monday.

When Christmas falls on a Saturday, banks typically close on Friday, December 24, and Monday, December 26. This is because federal banking rules allow banks to observe a holiday on the nearest weekday if the actual date falls on a weekend. Some banks choose to close on both days; others close only on the Monday. Check your bank's specific policy.

When Christmas falls on a Sunday, banks close on Monday, December 26, to observe the holiday. This is the most common scenario for a December 26 closure in the United States.

What you can and cannot do on December 26 if your bank is closed

ATMs work 24/7 regardless of whether the branch is closed, so you can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit checks at an ATM on December 26. Mobile banking apps also work normally — you can transfer money between your own accounts, pay bills, and send money to other people through your bank's app.

What does not happen on a closed day is processing of transactions that require the bank to move money to another institution. Wire transfers, ACH transfers to other banks, and checks deposited at an ATM will not begin processing until the next business day. If you deposit a check at an ATM on December 26 and the 26th is a banking holiday, the check will not be processed until December 27 at the earliest.

If you need to speak to a person at your bank on December 26, call the customer service number on the back of your card. Many banks staff their phone lines even on days when branches are closed, though wait times are often longer.

The difference between federal holidays and bank holidays

A federal holiday is a day the U.S. government observes — Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, and others. Banks are required to close on federal holidays. December 26 is not a federal holiday.

A bank holiday is a day an individual bank chooses to close, often to observe a federal holiday on a different date. If Christmas falls on a weekend, your bank may declare December 24 or December 26 a bank holiday to give employees time off while still observing the federal holiday.

This distinction matters because it means two banks in the same city might have different hours on December 26. One might be open; another might be closed. There is no single answer for "all banks" — you have to check yours.

How to find your bank's December 26 hours

The fastest way is to search "[Your Bank Name] holiday hours" or "[Your Bank Name] December 26" in a search engine. Most banks update their websites by early November with the full December schedule.

You can also call the main customer service number on the back of your debit or credit card. A representative can tell you whether your specific branch is open on December 26 and what services are available if it is closed.

If you use a credit union instead of a bank, the same rules explore — check the credit union's website or call the branch. Credit unions sometimes have different holiday schedules than banks, so do not assume they follow the same calendar.

Planning ahead for payments and deposits around Christmas

If you need to make a payment or deposit before the end of the year, do it before December 24. Checks deposited on December 26 or later may not clear until after the new year, which matters if you are trying to meet a year-end important date or avoid overdraft fees.

Wire transfers initiated on December 26 will not leave your account until December 27 at the earliest. If the receiving bank is also closed on the 27th, the money may not arrive until the 28th. Plan for at least two business days for any transfer between institutions during the Christmas period.

Bill payments scheduled through your bank's bill pay system will process on the date you set them for, even if that date is a holiday. However, the receiving organization may not process the payment until the next business day. If you are paying a bill that is due on December 27, schedule the payment for December 24 or earlier to be safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my debit card on December 26 if the bank is closed?

Yes. Debit cards work at any ATM and any merchant on December 26, regardless of whether your bank's branch is closed. The closure only affects services that require the bank to process the transaction internally, like speaking to a teller or initiating a wire transfer.

Will a check I deposit on December 26 clear before the end of the year?

Probably not. Checks deposited on December 26 will not begin processing until December 27 at the earliest. Depending on the check amount and the receiving bank, it may take several more days to clear. If you need the money to clear by December 31, deposit the check by December 24.

What if I need to transfer money on December 26 and the bank is closed?

Use your mobile banking app to transfer money between your own accounts — that works when ready. For transfers to another person's account at a different bank, the transfer will not process until the next business day, so initiate it on December 24 or earlier if timing matters.

Are online banks closed on December 26?

Online banks do not have physical branches, so they do not "close" in the traditional sense. However, they may not process transfers between institutions on December 26 if it is a holiday for them. Check your online bank's holiday schedule to confirm whether December 26 is a processing day.

If my bank is closed on December 26, can I still pay my credit card bill?

Yes. You can pay through the credit card company's website or app, or through your bank's bill pay system, even if the bank branch is closed. The payment will be recorded on the date you submit it, though it may take a business day to post to your account.