Most banks close on Memorial Day, but the timing and alternatives depend on which bank you use

Memorial Day is a federal holiday, and most banks treat it the same way they treat Christmas or Thanksgiving: they close their physical branches and do not process transactions that day. If you need cash or need to deposit a check, you cannot walk into a branch on Memorial Day itself.

The catch is that "closed" does not mean you have no access to your money. ATMs run 24/7 regardless of whether the branch is staffed. Online banking, mobile apps, and bill pay all work on the holiday. Wire transfers and ACH payments initiated before the holiday will process on the next business day (Tuesday, if Memorial Day falls on a Monday). The real constraint is that anything requiring a person — a teller, a loan officer, a notary — will not happen until the branch reopens.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank branches close on Memorial Day, but ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps work normally throughout the day.
  • Deposits made at an ATM on Memorial Day will post to your account on the next business day, not the same day.
  • Checks deposited through a mobile app on Memorial Day follow the same timeline as weekend deposits — they post Tuesday or Wednesday depending on when you submit them.
  • Wire transfers and ACH payments you initiate on Memorial Day will not process until Tuesday; initiate them before the holiday if timing matters.

What you can and cannot do on Memorial Day

ATM withdrawals work exactly as they do on any other day. You can pull cash, check your balance, and transfer money between your own accounts. ATM deposits (the envelope kind, or the newer machines that scan checks) also work, though the funds will not show in your account until the next business day. Some banks credit ATM deposits by the following morning; others wait until the day after. Check your bank's deposit policy or call before the holiday if you need to know the exact timing for your bank.

Online and mobile banking are fully operational. You can pay bills, send money to other people through Zelle or similar services, set up automatic transfers, and check your balance at any hour. The only limit is that if you initiate a payment to someone outside your bank (an ACH transfer or a bill payment to a company), it will not leave your account until the next business day, even if you submit it on the holiday.

What does not work: depositing a check with a teller, getting a cashier's check, opening a new account, explore for a loan, or anything else that requires speaking to a person. If you need a notary, that also waits until Tuesday.

Check deposits through your phone on Memorial Day

Mobile check deposit (the feature where you photograph a check and submit it through the app) works on Memorial Day. You can take the photo and submit it whenever you want. However, the check does not post to your account on the same day. Banks typically process mobile deposits submitted on a weekend or holiday the next business day, so a check you deposit on Monday, May 27 will post on Tuesday, May 28 at the earliest — sometimes Wednesday if your bank processes them in batches.

The timing matters if you are counting on that money to cover a payment due on Tuesday. If you need the funds to be available by a specific date, deposit the check before the holiday. A check deposited on Friday will post by Monday morning in most cases, giving you the money before the holiday arrives.

Wire transfers and ACH payments initiated on the holiday

If you initiate a wire transfer on Memorial Day, it will not send until the next business day. The same is true for ACH transfers (the kind you use to move money to another bank account, or to pay a bill through your bank's bill pay system). The bank receives your instruction on Monday, but the actual transfer does not leave your account until Tuesday.

This matters if you are paying a bill with a due date of Tuesday. If the bill is due Tuesday and you initiate payment on Monday, the payment will not arrive until Wednesday or later, depending on how long the receiving bank takes to process it. If you need a payment to arrive by a specific date, send it on Friday or earlier in the week before the holiday.

Wire transfers initiated before the holiday (Friday afternoon, for example) will process normally on Monday morning, before the holiday. Plan accordingly if you are moving large sums or paying time-sensitive bills.

Which banks are actually closed and which stay open

Nearly all traditional banks close on Memorial Day: Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, US Bank, and regional banks all shut their branches. Credit unions also close, with rare exceptions. Some credit unions in rural areas or with unusual operating schedules may stay open, but you should assume yours is closed unless you have checked directly.

Online-only banks (Ally, Charles Schwab Bank, Marcus) do not have physical branches, so there is nothing to close. You can use their apps and websites normally. If you need to deposit a check, you use mobile deposit, which works on the holiday with the same next-business-day posting timeline as any other bank.

A few banks operate limited Saturday hours, but they do not open on federal holidays. If your bank normally opens on Saturday, it will be closed on Monday, May 27.

Planning ahead if you need cash or a deposit before the holiday

If you need to withdraw cash, use an ATM on Sunday or earlier in the week. If you need to deposit a check and want it to post by Tuesday morning, deposit it on Friday using mobile deposit or at an ATM. If you need a service that requires a teller — a cashier's check, a notarized document, a new account — handle it on Friday or wait until Tuesday.

For bill payments, initiate them on Friday if they are due on Tuesday or Wednesday. For wire transfers, send them Friday afternoon at the latest. The one-day delay on the holiday can cascade into a two-day delay if the receiving institution also has a backlog, so building in extra time is safer than cutting it close.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my debit card to buy things on Memorial Day if the bank is closed?

Yes. Your debit card works at stores, gas stations, and ATMs regardless of whether your bank's branch is open. The transaction will post to your account normally. The only limit is that if you overdraft, you may not be able to reach customer service to discuss it until Tuesday.

If I deposit a check at an ATM on Sunday before Memorial Day, when will it post?

Most banks post Sunday ATM deposits by Monday morning, before the holiday. However, some banks treat Sunday deposits the same as Saturday deposits and do not post them until Monday. Check your bank's deposit policy or call to confirm the exact timing for your account.

What if I need cash and the ATM is out of money on Memorial Day?

ATMs occasionally run out of cash, especially on holidays when branches are closed and cannot refill them. If this happens, you will need to find another ATM or wait until Tuesday when the branch reopens. Withdraw cash on Friday or Saturday if you think you might need it on the holiday.

Do credit card payments process normally on Memorial Day?

Credit card payments you make through your card issuer's website or app on Memorial Day will be received and recorded, but they may not post to your account until Tuesday. If your payment is due on Tuesday, submit it on Friday to be safe. Most card issuers give you a grace period, but do not rely on it.

Can I transfer money between my accounts at different banks on Memorial Day?

You can initiate the transfer through your bank's app or website, but it will not actually move until Tuesday. If you need the money to be available at the other bank by a specific date, initiate the transfer on Friday.