Most U.S. banks close on Rosh Hashanah, but the exact dates and which branches stay open depend on your bank and location
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, falls on different dates each year because it follows the Hebrew calendar. In 2024, it runs from the evening of September 22 through the evening of September 24. In 2025, it runs from the evening of October 2 through the evening of October 4. Check your bank's website or call your branch to confirm whether they will be closed on those specific dates in your year.
Major national banks—including Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank—typically close their branches on Rosh Hashanah, though some larger branches in areas with significant Jewish populations may stay open for limited hours. Credit unions and regional banks vary widely. The safest approach is to contact your bank directly rather than assume based on what another bank does.
Even if your branch is closed, you can still access your money through ATMs, mobile banking, and online transfers. Checks deposited through mobile apps or ATMs will process when the bank reopens. Wire transfers initiated before the closure may clear the same day, but transfers started during the closure will process after the bank reopens.
Key Takeaways
- Rosh Hashanah dates change yearly on the Hebrew calendar; check your bank's holiday schedule for the exact dates your branch will be closed.
- Most major banks close their branches on Rosh Hashanah, but some branches in areas with larger Jewish communities may have limited hours.
- ATMs, mobile deposits, and online banking work during branch closures, so you can move money and deposit checks without visiting in person.
- Wire transfers and time-sensitive transactions should be completed before the closure begins, since processing stops when the bank is closed.
- Regional banks and credit unions have different closure policies, so calling ahead is the only way to know for certain.
How to find your bank's Rosh Hashanah hours
Your bank publishes its holiday schedule on its website, usually under a section labeled "Hours" or "Holiday Hours." Search for "Rosh Hashanah" or "Jewish holidays" on the site, or look for a full calendar of closures. If you cannot find it online, call your branch directly—the staff can tell you whether they will be open and for how long.
Some banks list closures by branch, meaning one location might be open while another nearby is closed. This is common in cities with multiple branches serving different neighborhoods. If you have a choice of branches, ask which ones will be staffed on Rosh Hashanah.
What you can do when your bank is closed
ATMs work 24/7, even when the branch is closed. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts. ATM transactions process when ready.
Mobile banking apps let you pay bills, send money to other people, and check your balance from your phone. These transactions are recorded right away, though they may not clear until the bank reopens. Mobile check deposit—where you photograph a check and submit it through the app—also works during closures; the check will be processed when the bank reopens.
Online banking through your computer works the same way. You can initiate transfers, pay bills, and view your account. Transfers between your own accounts at the same bank usually process when ready. Transfers to other banks may take one to three business days, depending on the receiving bank.
Wire transfers and time-sensitive payments before Rosh Hashanah
If you need to send a wire transfer, do it before the bank closes. Wire transfers initiated during a bank closure will not be sent until the bank reopens. If the receiving bank is also closed on Rosh Hashanah, the transfer may not arrive until the day after both banks reopen.
For payments with a important date—rent, a mortgage, a loan payment—check whether your bank allows you to schedule the payment in advance through online banking. Most banks let you set a payment date up to 30 days ahead. Schedule it for the day before the closure, or for the day the bank reopens, depending on your important date.
If you are paying a person or business directly and the important date falls during the closure, contact them ahead of time to let them know the payment is coming late. Many businesses understand that bank closures can delay payments.
Checks and deposits during the closure
Checks you deposit through a mobile app or ATM during the closure will be held until the bank reopens, then processed in the order they were received. The funds will not appear in your account until the bank processes them, which is usually one to two business days after reopening.
If you need to deposit a check urgently, deposit it before the closure begins. If the closure falls on a Friday or Saturday, the check will not clear until Monday at the earliest anyway, because banks do not process deposits on weekends.
Checks you write and mail will not be affected by the closure. The recipient's bank will process them when they arrive, regardless of whether your bank is closed.
Planning ahead for a multi-day closure
Rosh Hashanah lasts two days, and many banks close for both days. If Rosh Hashanah falls on a Thursday and Friday, your bank will be closed Thursday and Friday, reopening Monday. If it falls on a Saturday and Sunday, the bank is already closed those days, so the closure does not extend your wait.
Before the closure, withdraw enough cash for the days you will need it. Pay any bills with firm important date. Confirm that automatic payments—like insurance premiums or loan payments—are scheduled to go through before the closure or after the bank reopens.
If you have a paycheck coming during the closure, it will be deposited into your account when the bank reopens, even if the deposit was initiated before the closure. Direct deposit does not require the bank to be open; the funds are added to your account automatically.
What happens if you need emergency access to money
If you need cash during the closure, use an ATM. If you need to move money urgently and cannot wait for the bank to reopen, you can use a peer-to-peer payment app like Venmo, PayPal, or Square Cash to send money to someone else, or to receive money from someone else. These services work independently of bank hours.
If you have a true emergency—a fraudulent charge, a compromised account, a critical error—call your bank's customer service line. Most banks staff their phone lines 24/7, even on holidays, and can help you over the phone or through the app. They cannot process certain transactions without the branch being open, but they can answer questions and document problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my paycheck deposit if my bank is closed on Rosh Hashanah?
Yes. Direct deposit works automatically and does not depend on the bank being open. Your employer sends the deposit to your bank, and it is added to your account even during a closure. The funds will be available when you check your balance, though the bank may not send you a confirmation until it reopens.
Can I use my debit card if the bank is closed?
Yes. Your debit card works at any merchant or ATM, regardless of whether your bank's branch is open. The transaction will process normally. The only exception is if your card is blocked or frozen for fraud reasons, which requires calling customer service.
Do online banks close for Rosh Hashanah?
Online banks without physical branches do not have holiday closures in the traditional sense. However, they may have reduced customer service hours or delayed processing on Rosh Hashanah. Check your bank's website for its holiday schedule. ATMs and mobile banking will still work normally.
What if I need to deposit a check and the bank is closed for two days?
Use mobile check deposit through your bank's app before the closure, or deposit it at an ATM if your bank offers that service. If you cannot do either, deposit it as soon as the bank reopens. The check will be processed in the order it was received, and the funds will be available one to two business days after processing.
Will my automatic bill payments go through if the bank is closed?
Automatic payments scheduled before the closure will usually process on their scheduled date, even if the bank is closed. However, if the payment date falls during the closure, it may be delayed until the bank reopens. Log into your online banking and check the scheduled date of each payment before the closure begins.