Everything can descend into a frenzy during the approach of the holiday weekend: last-minute shopping excursions, family gatherings, and constantly evolving holiday decorations. It can be easy to lose track of the days your bank is closed. But if you need to access funds from one of your bank accounts, ensuring you are not mixing up the established days for rest is crucial.
We have compiled a list of holidays during which most banks are closed, as well as alternative methods for obtaining cash quickly. Let’s get started…
Is Black Friday a Bank Holiday?
Black Friday is not a federal or bank holiday despite its well-known moniker. People may treat the day as a retail holiday to take advantage of deals ahead of Christmas, but the government does not recognize it.
Banks and the United States Postal Service will be closed on federal holidays like Thanksgiving. Both services will be available because Black Friday is not a national holiday.
However, schools and colleges are among the few sectors in the country that combine Black Friday with Thanksgiving break, giving students a four-day weekend.
Are banks open on Thanksgiving?
On Thanksgiving, all banks will be closed. Thanksgiving is a bank holiday that is included in the Federal Reserve System’s holiday schedule, which is followed by the majority of banks and credit unions.
On Thanksgiving, all branches will be closed. Banking transactions with an online financial institution may also be delayed until the next business day.
Meanwhile, you can also go over our article on what’s open on Thanksgiving Day to find out more information.
Are Banks Open on Black Friday?
Most banks will be open because Black Friday is not a federal holiday and not on the Federal Reserve System’s holiday schedule.
However, there may be some exceptions. Schools First Federal Credit Union, Democracy Federal Credit Union, and Centinel Bank of Taos, for example, all include the day after Thanksgiving in their calendars. If you bank locally, check your bank’s holiday schedule online or call your nearest branch before the holidays.
When Do the Banks Close?
On federal holidays, financial institutions are closed. Most have a holiday schedule on their website, so you can plan ahead of time.
Some brick-and-mortar banks keep a list of frequently asked questions on their website. Others, like TD Bank and Regions Bank, have separate pages listing bank holidays. Brick-and-mortar banks will close all their branches or change their hours during these holidays. The hours of customer service may also differ depending on where you bank.
Although online banks typically do not have physical branch locations, you may still be affected. Transactions may be delayed until the following day if an online bank observes a holiday.
Customer service availability with online banks is usually consistent, but there are some exceptions. Except for the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, Capital One 360 provides customer service support on all holidays.
The majority of banks follow the Federal Reserve System’s holiday schedule which does not account for Black Friday. The holiday schedule for 2023 and 2024 is as follows:
| Holiday | 2023 |
| New Year’s Day | January 1* |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | January 16 |
| Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) | February 20 |
| Memorial Day | May 29 |
| Juneteenth | June 19 |
| Fourth of July | July 4 |
| Labor Day | September 4 |
| Columbus Day | October 9 |
| Veterans Day | November 11* |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 23 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
Please keep in mind that if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the bank will remain open on Friday. However, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the bank will be closed on Monday.
With a few exceptions, the stock market is open on the same days as banks.
Do transactions go through on bank holidays?
Most banking transactions are not processed on bank holidays, whether you use an online or traditional bank.
Ally Bank, for example, does not allow money-related transactions on federal holidays. Chime, an online banking platform, also lists holidays when direct deposits cannot be processed.
Transactions at traditional banks such as Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America will not be processed until the following business day. Weekdays are considered business days when branches are open.
Instead of relying on a sluggish direct deposit, you should devise a backup plan in case the transaction is delayed.
Read Also: What Stores Are Having Black Friday Sales 2023: Detailed List
Where can I get cash when banks are closed?
Although branches are closed on federal holidays, ATMs are not. You can still withdraw cash during the holidays if you have a debit or ATM card.
If you’re out of town, a debit card can be used to get cash back at a store if there aren’t any free ATMs nearby. You won’t have to pay an out-of-network ATM fee if your bank doesn’t reimburse charges this way.
How can I cash a personal check when banks are closed?
If you get a personal check during the holidays, there are a few ways to get your money quickly.
You can cash the check at a store if you need money quickly.
Some ATMs allow you to cash or deposit checks, but you may need those funds already in your account. If your bank’s ATM network does not allow you to make check transactions, you can deposit the check online or via mobile, then cash it out at an ATM.
Because funds are unlikely to be available right away, this option is best if you prefer to keep your money safe in your account and don’t mind waiting a day or two.
Using an ATM on a Federal Bank Holiday
Although bank branches are closed on holidays, ATMs are not. You will be able to view your account balance and withdraw cash. As an added bonus, some banks have 24-hour ATMs.
Paying a Bill on a Bank Holiday
If you have an automated bill payment that falls on a Federal Reserve holiday, the payment will not be processed until the following business day, which may result in late fees if you miss the due date. On bank holidays, all withdrawals will be halted. Make sure to plan ahead of time for bills that fall on these holidays so that your payments are received on time.
Chase Bank Holiday Hours 2023
Except for Columbus Day, Chase is generally closed on most holidays. They do not always open and close their doors at the same times as other financial institutions. The following are the major bank holidays to be aware of, as well as Chase Bank’s holiday hours for those dates.
Is the post office open on Thanksgiving?
Except for “Express Critical” items, UPS will not deliver on Thanksgiving, but the company says delivery and pickup services will resume on Black Friday.
Why Is It Called Black Friday?
The common narrative surrounding Black Friday is that it is about retailer financial loss and gain, but this may not be the full story.
According to Britannica, Black Friday is commonly referred to when stores operating at a loss (“in the red”) turn a profit (“went into the black”) the day after Thanksgiving, as shoppers spend heavily on discounted goods.
However, another Black Friday myth has emerged in recent years.
The other story takes place in the early 1960s, when Philadelphia police officers coined the phrase “Black Friday” to describe the chaos caused by suburban visitors who came to the city for holiday shopping.
The massive crowds that swarmed the city caused problems for Philadelphia police officers, who were forced to work longer shifts to deal with traffic accidents and shoplifting scofflaws. Despite retailers’ attempts to positively spin the name by referring to it as “Big Friday,” the phrase “Black Friday” had taken root in the local lexicon within a few years.
According to Britannica, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that merchants began to spread the red-to-black story for Black Friday. Since then, the term has become synonymous with the day after Thanksgiving for retail shopping.
Meanwhile, the detailed story is in our “Why Is It Called Black Friday? The Story Behind It!!!” article.
Is Black Friday Really the World’s Largest shopping Day?
Yes, Black Friday is by far the most important shopping day of the year in the United States.
According to the National Retail Federation, over 130 million people plan to shop on Black Friday, a 69% increase from 2022. Cyber Monday is the second most popular shopping day, with 71 million people planning to take advantage of deals.
From Thanksgiving Day to Cyber Monday, an estimated 182 million people plan to shop both in-store and online.
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