Most banks are closed on Memorial Day, but you can still move money

Memorial Day is a federal holiday, and most banks observe it by closing their physical branches. This means you cannot walk in, speak to a teller, or use a safe deposit box. However, you can still access your money through ATMs, mobile apps, and online banking — these services run 24/7 regardless of the holiday.

The closure applies to the main banking operations: teller windows, loan officers, customer service phone lines, and in-person services. Some large banks staff a limited number of branches on holidays, but this is rare and varies by location. If you need to reach a person, you will have to wait until the next business day.

Wire transfers, ACH transfers, and bill payments initiated through your app or online portal will process normally, though they may settle a day later than usual because the Federal Reserve also observes the holiday.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank branches close on Memorial Day, but ATMs and online banking work all day.
  • You can send money, pay bills, and check your balance through your phone or computer without waiting.
  • Transfers you start on Memorial Day may not settle until Tuesday because the Federal Reserve is also closed.
  • If you need to speak to someone at your bank, you will need to call or visit on Tuesday.

What you can do on Memorial Day without a branch

ATMs work on holidays because they are connected directly to your bank's network and do not require staff. You can withdraw cash, deposit checks (if your bank has mobile deposit or a deposit ATM), transfer money between your own accounts, and check your balance.

Online and mobile banking let you pay bills, send money to other people, set up automatic transfers, and review transactions. These actions happen in real time on your phone or computer. If you are sending money to another bank, the transfer request goes through when ready, but the receiving bank will not process it until they reopen on Tuesday.

If your bank offers a mobile check deposit feature, you can photograph a check and deposit it through the app. The bank will process it when they reopen, usually by the next business day.

How transfers work when banks are closed

The timing of a transfer depends on the type. An ACH transfer (the most common way to send money between banks) normally takes one to two business days. If you start an ACH transfer on Memorial Day, it enters the queue but does not move until Tuesday, when the Federal Reserve processes it. You will see it leave your account on Tuesday and arrive at the other bank by Wednesday or Thursday.

A wire transfer works the same way: you can request it on Memorial Day through your app or online banking, but it will not actually send until Tuesday. Wire transfers are faster once they start — usually same-day or next-day — but the holiday delay applies to the start date.

Payments to credit cards, utilities, and other billers also queue up on Memorial Day and process the next business day. If a bill is due on Monday, paying it on Memorial Day will not make it late, because the payment will not actually leave your account until Tuesday. However, if a bill is due on Tuesday, you should have paid it before the holiday.

Which banks stay open and which ones close

All major national banks — Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, US Bank, and others — close their branches on Memorial Day. Credit unions also close. Online-only banks like Ally, Charles Schwab Bank, and Discover have no branches to close, so there is nothing different about the day for them.

A very small number of large banks open one or two branches in major cities on federal holidays, but this is not standard practice. If you think your bank might be open, call ahead or check their website, because hours vary by location and change year to year.

Local and regional banks follow the same federal holiday schedule as national banks. Some community banks may have different policies, so if you bank locally, it is worth checking their website or calling the branch directly.

Planning ahead to avoid delays

If you need money on Memorial Day, withdraw it before the holiday. ATMs will have it available, but if you need a large amount or a cashier's check, you will have to go to the branch on Friday or earlier in the week.

If you are expecting a deposit — a paycheck, a tax refund, or a transfer from someone else — it will not arrive on Memorial Day. Deposits that would normally land on Monday will arrive on Tuesday instead. If you are counting on that money for a bill due Monday, you will need to plan differently.

For bill payments, submit them by Friday if the due date is Monday or Tuesday. This gives the payment time to process and clear before the holiday. If you wait until Monday, the payment will not leave your account until Tuesday, and it may arrive late.

What happens to checks and deposits over the holiday

If you deposit a check at an ATM on Memorial Day, the bank receives it but does not process it until Tuesday. The funds will not be available until Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the check amount and your bank's policy. Large checks may take longer.

If someone sends you a check in the mail and it arrives on Monday, it will sit in your mailbox until you deposit it. The bank will not process it until you do, so the holiday does not directly affect mailed checks — only the timing of when you can deposit them.

Direct deposits (like paychecks) are scheduled by your employer and the payroll processor. If your pay date is Monday, Memorial Day, your employer's payroll system will not send the deposit until Tuesday. You will see the money on Tuesday or Wednesday, not Monday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my debit card on Memorial Day?

Yes. Debit cards work at any merchant or ATM on the holiday. Your bank is closed, but the payment network (Visa, Mastercard, or your bank's network) runs 24/7. Purchases will show in your account when ready, though they may not settle until Tuesday.

Will my automatic bill payments go through on Memorial Day?

Yes, if they are set to process on that date. Automatic payments are scheduled in advance and do not require the bank to be open. The payment will leave your account on Memorial Day and arrive at the biller by Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the type of payment.

What if I need to dispute a transaction on Memorial Day?

You can report it through your mobile app or online banking, and most banks have a form you can fill out. A person will review it when the bank reopens on Tuesday. For urgent issues, some banks have a holiday customer service line — check your bank's website for the number.

Do credit card payments process on Memorial Day?

Credit card payments you submit on Memorial Day will process on Tuesday. If your payment is due on Monday, you should have paid it before the holiday. If it is due on Tuesday or later, paying on Monday will reach the card company in time.

Can I get a cashier's check on Memorial Day?

No. Cashier's checks are issued by tellers and require the branch to be open. You will need to visit on Friday or Tuesday. If you need one urgently, some banks can mail it to you, but this takes several days.