Banks are closed on Thanksgiving Day in the United States

Yes. All federally regulated banks close on Thanksgiving Day. This includes national banks, most state banks, and credit unions that observe federal holidays. The Federal Reserve does not process payments that day, which means transfers, wire payments, and check clearing all stop.

If you need cash before the holiday, you must withdraw it beforehand. ATMs stay open, but you cannot deposit checks, make transfers at a teller, or speak to anyone about account issues on Thanksgiving itself.

Some banks reopen the day after Thanksgiving (the Friday), but a few remain closed. Check your bank's holiday schedule on their website or call ahead if you are unsure.

Key Takeaways

  • All federally regulated banks close on Thanksgiving Day, and the Federal Reserve does not process payments that day.
  • ATMs work on Thanksgiving, but you cannot deposit checks, make transfers with a teller, or resolve account problems.
  • Transfers and wire payments sent on Thanksgiving will not process until the next business day, which may be Friday or later depending on your bank.
  • If you need cash or must make a payment before the holiday, do it the day before Thanksgiving.

What stops working on Thanksgiving

The Federal Reserve halts all payment processing on Thanksgiving. This means wire transfers, ACH transfers (the system used for direct deposit and bill payments), and check clearing all pause. If you send a wire transfer on Thanksgiving morning, it will not leave your account until Friday at the earliest.

In-person banking stops entirely. You cannot visit a branch, speak to a teller, deposit a check, or resolve account issues. Phone banking and online banking may be available depending on your bank, but no actual transactions process until the bank reopens.

Bill payments scheduled for Thanksgiving may process on that day if you set them up in advance through your bank's bill pay system, but this depends on when the payment was scheduled and your bank's specific rules. Check your bank's website for their Thanksgiving policy on scheduled payments.

ATMs still work, but with limits

ATMs remain open and functional on Thanksgiving. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit checks into the ATM. However, check deposits made on Thanksgiving will not clear until the next business day — usually Friday, but sometimes Monday if your bank remains closed on Friday.

Cash withdrawals are when ready, so if you need money for the holiday, the ATM is your option. But be aware that some ATMs run out of cash during heavy holiday use, so withdraw what you need earlier in the week if possible.

When transfers and payments actually process

Any transfer or payment you initiate on Thanksgiving Day will not process until the next business day. For most banks, that is Friday after Thanksgiving. For banks that remain closed on Friday, processing begins Saturday — but the Federal Reserve does not work weekends, so the payment actually moves Monday.

This matters most for bill payments and rent. If rent is due on the 28th and you send a payment on Thanksgiving (the 28th in some years), it will not reach your landlord until Friday at the earliest. Plan ahead and send payments by Wednesday if they are due around the holiday.

Wire transfers follow the same rule. If you wire money on Thanksgiving, it sits in your bank's queue until Friday morning. International wires may take even longer because they route through additional banks.

Which banks stay closed the day after Thanksgiving

Most banks reopen on Friday after Thanksgiving and operate normal hours. However, some regional banks and credit unions observe the Friday as an additional holiday or use it as a staff day. This is less common than it once was, but it does happen.

Check your specific bank's website for their holiday schedule, or call their customer service line before the holiday week. The schedule is usually posted in September or October. If your bank is closed on Friday, any payments you need to make should go out by Wednesday.

How to plan around Thanksgiving closures

If you have bills due around Thanksgiving, schedule payments for the Wednesday before. Most banks allow you to schedule payments up to two weeks in advance through their bill pay system. This ensures the payment leaves your account before the holiday and reaches the recipient by the due date.

If you need cash, withdraw it on Wednesday or earlier. Do not wait until Wednesday evening — ATMs can run low during heavy holiday use, and you do not want to find yourself short of cash on Thanksgiving morning.

For direct deposits, payroll usually processes normally because employers schedule deposits in advance. Your paycheck should hit your account on the normal day, even if that day is Thanksgiving. But if your employer's payroll system is closed, the deposit may delay until Friday.

What happens if you need help on Thanksgiving

If you have an urgent account problem on Thanksgiving — a fraudulent charge, a locked account, or a missing deposit — you cannot resolve it that day. Some banks offer a phone number for emergencies, but they cannot actually fix the problem until Friday.

Document the issue (take screenshots, write down times and amounts) and contact your bank first thing Friday morning. If the issue involves fraud, you can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission online at reportfraud.ftc.gov, which accepts reports 24/7.

For non-urgent issues, wait until Friday. Calling a bank's emergency line for something that can wait until the next business day ties up resources and usually does not speed up the resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Debit cards work at merchants and ATMs on Thanksgiving because the transaction routes through the payment network, not through your bank's branch. Your bank being closed does not stop you from swiping your card or using it online. The transaction will post to your account, but the bank's record of it may not update until Friday.

Will my paycheck deposit on Thanksgiving if that is payday?

Usually yes, because employers schedule direct deposits in advance and the Federal Reserve processes them automatically. However, if your employer's payroll system is closed on Thanksgiving, the deposit may delay until Friday. Check with your employer if you are unsure when they process payroll.

What if I need to dispute a charge on Thanksgiving?

You cannot start a dispute on Thanksgiving because your bank is closed. Call or visit your bank's website on Friday to report the charge. You have up to 60 days to dispute most transactions, so waiting one day will not hurt your case. Document the charge and the reason for the dispute before you call.

Can I transfer money between my own accounts on Thanksgiving?

You can initiate the transfer through your bank's app or website, but it will not process until Friday. If both accounts are at the same bank, the transfer may post Friday morning. If they are at different banks, it may take until Monday because the Federal Reserve does not process transfers on weekends.

Do credit unions close on Thanksgiving too?

Most federally insured credit unions close on Thanksgiving because they follow the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule. However, some credit unions stay open or have limited hours. Check your credit union's website or call ahead to confirm their Thanksgiving hours.