The U.S. observes 11 federal bank holidays each year
The Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury recognize 11 official holidays when most banks close. These are days when the banking system itself shuts down — no wire transfers process, no ACH payments clear, no check deposits post. If you send money on a bank holiday, it will not move until the next business day.
The holidays are set by federal law, not by individual banks. Some banks may close on additional state or regional holidays, but the 11 federal holidays are the baseline. The actual dates shift slightly year to year because some holidays fall on weekends and get observed on the nearest weekday instead.
Key Takeaways
- The 11 federal bank holidays are New Year's Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- When a holiday falls on a weekend, banks observe it on Friday (if Saturday) or Monday (if Sunday), so the closure date shifts year to year.
- Bank holidays affect when money moves: wire transfers, ACH payments, and check deposits do not process on these days.
- Some banks may close on additional state holidays beyond the 11 federal ones, so check your bank's holiday schedule if you need to know about a specific date.
The complete list of 11 federal bank holidays
Here are the holidays in the order they occur during the calendar year:
| Holiday | Typical Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Observed on Monday if January 1 falls on Sunday |
| MLK Jr. Day | Third Monday in January | Fixed to the third Monday; date changes each year |
| Presidents' Day | Third Monday in February | Fixed to the third Monday; date changes each year |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May | Always the last Monday of the month |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Observed on Monday if June 19 falls on Sunday; observed on Friday if it falls on Saturday |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Observed on Monday if July 4 falls on Sunday; observed on Friday if it falls on Saturday |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September | Always the first Monday of the month |
| Columbus Day | Second Monday in October | Fixed to the second Monday; date changes each year |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Observed on Monday if November 11 falls on Sunday; observed on Friday if it falls on Saturday |
| Thanksgiving | Fourth Thursday in November | Always the fourth Thursday of the month |
| Christmas | December 25 | Observed on Monday if December 25 falls on Sunday; observed on Friday if it falls on Saturday |
How bank holidays affect money movement
On a federal bank holiday, the Federal Reserve does not process payments. This means wire transfers you initiate on a holiday will not leave your account until the next business day. The same applies to ACH transfers — the automated clearing house that handles direct deposits, bill payments, and peer-to-peer transfers does not run on bank holidays.
Check deposits also do not clear on bank holidays. If you deposit a check on a Friday before a three-day weekend (because Monday is a holiday), the check will not begin clearing until Tuesday. This extends the time before the funds show up in your account.
Debit card transactions and ATM withdrawals still work on bank holidays because those are not part of the banking system's settlement process — they are real-time transactions at the point of sale. But anything that requires the banking system to move money between institutions will wait.
When holidays fall on weekends
The Federal Reserve observes a holiday on the nearest weekday when the actual date falls on a weekend. If a holiday is on a Saturday, banks close on Friday instead. If a holiday is on a Sunday, banks close on Monday instead.
This matters because it changes which day you need to plan around. For example, if Independence Day (July 4) falls on a Saturday, banks will be closed on Friday, July 3. If you need money to clear before the weekend, you have to send it by Thursday. The same logic applies to New Year's Day, Juneteenth, Christmas, and Veterans Day — all fixed dates that can land on weekends.
State and regional holidays that may affect your bank
Some states observe additional holidays beyond the 11 federal ones. Banks in those states may close on state holidays even though the Federal Reserve does not. For example, some banks in the South close on Confederate Memorial Day, and some banks in Hawaii close on additional state holidays.
Your specific bank may also close on holidays that are not federal or state — some regional banks close on local observances. The safest approach is to check your bank's holiday schedule on their website or call their customer service line if you need to know whether a specific date will affect payment processing.
Planning around bank holidays for time-sensitive payments
If you need money to reach another account by a specific date, count backward from that date and account for any bank holidays in between. A wire transfer sent on a Friday before a three-day weekend (Monday holiday) will not clear until Tuesday at the earliest. An ACH payment sent on a Thursday before a holiday weekend will not process until the day after the holiday.
If you are paying a bill with a important date, send the payment at least one business day before the due date, and add extra time if a bank holiday falls in between. Many people miss bill important date because they did not account for a holiday extending the processing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all banks close on all 11 federal holidays?
Most banks close on all 11 federal holidays, but some may stay open on certain holidays depending on their location or business model. Online banks may have different policies. Check with your specific bank to confirm which holidays affect your account.
Can I use my debit card or ATM on a bank holiday?
Yes. ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases work on bank holidays because they do not require the banking system to settle payments between institutions. The transaction happens in real time at the point of sale or ATM.
If a holiday falls on a weekend, when does my bank actually close?
The Federal Reserve observes the holiday on the nearest weekday. If the holiday is on Saturday, your bank closes on Friday. If the holiday is on Sunday, your bank closes on Monday. Check your bank's website to confirm the observed date for that year.
Will my direct deposit arrive on a bank holiday?
No. Direct deposits are ACH transfers, and the clearing house does not process ACH payments on federal bank holidays. A deposit scheduled for a holiday will arrive on the next business day instead.
How far in advance should I send a wire transfer if a bank holiday is coming up?
Send wire transfers at least one business day before a bank holiday if the money needs to arrive by a specific date. If a holiday falls on Monday, send the wire by Friday. If multiple holidays are close together, add extra days to your timeline.