Are Banks Open on Christmas Eve?

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When you’re rushing around until the last minute trying to check off every item on your holiday to-do list, getting to the bank might fall to the bottom. So it’s always helpful to know what’s open over the Christmas holidays in case you have last-minute banking needs. Read on to find out if banks will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Bank Hours on Christmas Eve

Since Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) is not a federal holiday, most banks are open for business. The exception is when Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, since banks close on Sunday no matter what.

However, when banks are open, customers should still keep in mind that some branches may operate at reduced hours. Be sure to call your local branch to confirm its hours of operation if you need to do banking in person.

Christmas Day Bank Hours

Christmas is a standard Federal Reserve bank holiday, so all banks will be closed on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. If Christmas Day happens to fall on a Sunday, customers should expect banks to observe it and be closed on Monday.

Alternative Banking Options

Just because your bank is closed doesn’t mean you won’t be able to access your funds. Many ATMs are available 24/7 and only require that you know your PIN. In the event that your checking account balance is running low but a friend or family member can loan you enough money to get you through the holiday, have them send you a payment through a mobile banking app or a peer-to-peer payment app like Venmo.

If you need to get a money order, you still have options even if your bank is closed. Walmart, for example, offers money orders at many stores, which are generally open on Christmas Eve (but not Christmas Day). Many grocery stores offer both check cashing and money orders for a fee, but you’ll have to ensure the store is open to receive your business, which can be tricky on the Christmas holidays.

If you need to deposit a check, make a credit card payment or transfer funds to another account, you can likely do all of this and more through your bank’s online and mobile banking platforms. Banks are constantly adding new features and updating their online options to make banking more convenient for customers.

When Banks Reopen After Christmas

The majority of banks reopen the day after Christmas, unless it’s a Sunday.

Keep in mind that if the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, banks will observe it on the nearest weekday. This means if the holiday falls on a Saturday, the banks will typically close on the preceding Friday, and if it’s on a Sunday, they will be closed the following Monday. Make sure you plan your banking tasks carefully to avoid any inconvenience during these holiday adjustments.

2025 Bank Holiday Schedule

Taylor Bell, Elizabeth Constantineau and Daria Uhlig contributed to the reporting for this article.

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