Most U.S. banks close on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, and most banks treat it the same way they treat Thanksgiving or Christmas: they shut down entirely. That means no teller service, no branch access, and no in-person transactions. The Federal Reserve, which sets the schedule for the banking system, observes the holiday, so the payment networks that move money between banks run on a delayed schedule.

The day falls on the third Monday in January each year. In 2024, that was January 15. In 2025, it is January 20. If you need to do banking on that day, you will need to use a channel that does not require a physical branch.

Some banks do stay open on MLK Day—usually smaller regional banks or credit unions that do not follow the federal holiday calendar. Call your bank directly to confirm. Do not assume based on what another bank does.

Key Takeaways

  • Most major U.S. banks close completely on MLK Day, including all branch locations and teller services.
  • ATMs and online banking remain available on MLK Day at banks that close their branches, so you can withdraw cash and transfer money without visiting a branch.
  • Payments you send on MLK Day will not process until the next business day, even if you submit them before midnight.
  • Some smaller banks and credit unions stay open on MLK Day, so contact your institution directly if you need in-person service.
  • Wire transfers, ACH transfers, and check deposits submitted on MLK Day will clear on the next business day or later depending on the type of transfer.

What stays open: ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps

Even though the branch closes, your bank's ATM network usually keeps running. You can withdraw cash, check your balance, and deposit checks at most ATMs on MLK Day. The transaction posts to your account, but if you deposit a check, it will not clear until the next business day because the bank is not processing deposits that day.

Online banking and mobile apps work normally on MLK Day. You can log in, view your balance, set up transfers, and pay bills from your phone or computer. The transaction will sit in a queue and process the next business day when the bank's systems come back online.

Some banks offer 24-hour customer service lines even on holidays. If you have a question or need to report fraud, you can usually reach someone by phone, though wait times are often longer than on regular business days.

When payments and transfers actually process

Timing depends on the type of payment. An ACH transfer (the standard way to move money between accounts at different banks) that you send on MLK Day will not leave your account until the next business day. The receiving bank will not see it until the day after that, or sometimes later. A typical ACH transfer takes one to three business days total, and MLK Day adds an extra day to that timeline.

Wire transfers work the same way. If you send a wire on MLK Day, it queues until the next business day. Wires usually move faster than ACH once they process, but the holiday delay applies to both.

Bill payments sent through your bank's bill pay system on MLK Day will not leave your account until the next business day. If you are paying a bill that is due on MLK Day itself, the payment will arrive late. Plan ahead and send bill payments the day before if the due date falls on or near the holiday.

Check deposits made at an ATM on MLK Day will be scanned and added to your account balance when ready, but the check will not clear until the next business day. If you need the funds to be available the same day, you cannot rely on a check deposit on MLK Day.

Which banks stay open on MLK Day

Most large national banks close on MLK Day: Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and US Bank all shut their branches. However, some regional banks and credit unions do not observe the federal holiday schedule. Smaller institutions sometimes stay open because they set their own hours and do not follow the Federal Reserve calendar.

The only way to know for certain is to call your bank or check their website. Search "[Your Bank Name] MLK Day hours" or call the branch directly. Do not assume your bank is closed just because another bank is. Do not assume your bank is open just because a competitor is.

Some banks post holiday hours on their website in advance. Others update their hours on the day itself. If you need in-person service on MLK Day, confirm with your bank at least a day ahead.

Planning around the holiday

If you have a payment due on or shortly after MLK Day, send it the business day before the holiday. ACH transfers and bill payments take at least one business day to process, and the holiday adds another day to the queue. A payment sent on Friday before MLK Day Monday will not reach the recipient until Wednesday at the earliest.

If you need cash on MLK Day, use an ATM the day before. Most ATM networks stay open, but if your bank's ATM is broken or out of service, you will have no backup on a holiday when branches are closed.

If you are expecting a deposit (paycheck, tax refund, insurance payout) that normally arrives on a Monday, check whether that Monday is MLK Day. If it is, the deposit will arrive on Tuesday instead. Your employer or the sending institution will have delayed processing by one day.

What the Federal Reserve's closure means

The Federal Reserve operates the payment networks that move money between banks. When the Fed closes for a holiday, those networks close too. That is why a payment sent on MLK Day does not process until the next day—the infrastructure itself is not running.

This affects every bank in the country, not just the ones that close their branches. Even if a small bank stays open on MLK Day and lets you walk in and make a deposit, that deposit cannot move to another bank until the Fed reopens. The receiving bank will not see it until the next business day.

The same applies to wire transfers, ACH transfers, and check clearing. The delay is built into the system, not into individual banks' decisions to close or stay open.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Your debit card works at any merchant or ATM on MLK Day, regardless of whether your bank's branch is open. The transaction will process normally. If you use your debit card to buy something, the charge will post to your account, but if you are waiting for a pending transaction to clear, the bank's closure may delay that by one day.

Will my direct deposit arrive on time if MLK Day falls on a Monday?

No. If your employer normally deposits your paycheck on Monday and that Monday is MLK Day, the deposit will arrive on Tuesday instead. Some employers deposit on Friday before the holiday to avoid the delay, but most follow the standard schedule and deposit one day late.

What if I need to deposit a check on MLK Day?

Use your bank's ATM or mobile app to deposit the check. The check will be scanned and added to your available balance when ready, but it will not clear until the next business day. If you need the funds to be available the same day, you cannot rely on a check deposit on a holiday.

Do credit unions close on MLK Day?

Most credit unions close on MLK Day, but not all. Some smaller credit unions stay open. Call your credit union directly to confirm their hours. Do not assume they follow the same schedule as banks.

Can I pay a bill online on MLK Day?

Yes, you can submit a bill payment through your bank's website or app on MLK Day. The payment will queue and process the next business day. If your bill is due on MLK Day itself, the payment will arrive late. Plan ahead and submit payments the day before if the due date is on or near the holiday.