Yes — most banks are closed on Columbus Day. Because Columbus Day is a federal holiday, the Federal Reserve observes it, which means nearly every U.S. bank, including major chains like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citibank, shuts its branch doors for the day. In 2025, Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 13.

But the answer comes with several important caveats. While bank lobbies and drive-throughs close, your money keeps moving. Online banking, mobile apps, and ATMs continue to work around the clock. And in a twist that surprises many people, the stock market actually stays open on Columbus Day — even though banks do not. Here is everything you need to know about what is open and closed on Columbus Day, why banks close, and how the growing movement to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day is reshaping the holiday.

Why Banks Close on Columbus Day: The Federal Reserve Connection

Banks do not close on Columbus Day by accident or by tradition alone. They close because the Federal Reserve — the central bank of the United States — includes Columbus Day on its official holiday schedule. When the Federal Reserve is closed, it cannot settle certain types of payments and transfers, so retail banks and credit unions follow the same calendar.

The Federal Reserve observes eleven holidays each year: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Because Columbus Day is on that list, bank branches close, and services such as same-day ACH transfers and wire processing are typically delayed until the next business day.

Columbus Day has been a federal holiday since 1937, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed it into law following years of lobbying by Italian American organizations. The holiday commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Decades later, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 shifted the observance to the second Monday of October to create a consistent three-day weekend.

Columbus Day 2025: The Key Dates You Need to Know

Columbus Day is always observed on the second Monday of October. Here is when the holiday falls in the coming years:

  • 2025: Monday, October 13
  • 2026: Monday, October 12
  • 2027: Monday, October 11
  • 2028: Monday, October 9

Because the date shifts from year to year, it is easy to be caught off guard. Marking the second Monday of October on your calendar is the simplest way to remember when bank branches will be closed.

What's Closed — and What Stays Open — on Columbus Day

Columbus Day affects different institutions in different ways. Here is a quick breakdown:

  • Banks and credit unions: Closed — it is a Federal Reserve holiday.
  • U.S. Postal Service (USPS): Closed — no regular mail delivery.
  • Federal government offices: Closed.
  • State and local government offices: Varies by state and city.
  • Public schools: Varies by district — many remain open.
  • Stock market (NYSE and Nasdaq): Open.
  • Most retail stores and restaurants: Open.

If you need to visit a bank teller, send mail, or visit a federal office, plan around the closure. If you are shopping or trading stocks, business continues mostly as usual.

Indigenous Peoples' Day: Why the Holiday Isn't the Same Everywhere

One reason the Columbus Day picture can get confusing is that a growing number of states and cities have replaced or renamed the holiday. Instead of Columbus Day, many communities now observe Indigenous Peoples' Day, honoring the history and contributions of Native American peoples.

More than a dozen states — including Alaska, Minnesota, Vermont, New Mexico, Maine, and Oregon — officially recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, and cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, and Phoenix have done the same. A handful of states, including Alabama, Alaska, and Hawaii, do not observe Columbus Day as a state holiday at all. In these places, state government offices may remain open even while federal offices and banks are closed.

The push to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day gained momentum in the early 1990s, starting with Berkeley, California, which renamed the holiday in 1992. South Dakota has observed Native American Day in place of Columbus Day since 1990. In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day. The key point for your wallet: federal holidays like Columbus Day still close banks everywhere, regardless of how your state or city chooses to name or observe the day.

Your Money Still Works: ATMs, Online Banking, and Mobile Apps

Even when branch locations are closed, most banking services keep running. ATMs continue to dispense cash and accept deposits, and mobile banking apps let you check balances, transfer money, and pay bills at any hour. Here is what you can still do on Columbus Day:

  • Withdraw cash and make deposits at ATMs.
  • Check account balances and review transactions.
  • Transfer money between your own accounts.
  • Pay bills through online and mobile banking.
  • Use debit and credit cards normally.

What you generally cannot do is visit a teller in person, open a new account at a branch, or complete certain same-day wire transfers, which are processed on the next business day instead.

The Stock Market Anomaly: Why Wall Street Stays Open

Here is a surprise for many people: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq remain open on Columbus Day, even though banks are closed. This makes Columbus Day — along with Veterans Day — unusual, because most other federal holidays shut down the markets too.

The reason is largely historical. The stock market follows its own holiday calendar, which is set by the exchanges themselves rather than the federal government. The NYSE and Nasdaq chose not to close on Columbus Day, in part because the holiday is not universally observed across all 50 states, and trading volume stays relatively normal. So while your bank branch is closed, the market's regular trading session runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time as usual.

How the Holiday Affects Deposits, Payments, and Transfers

All major national banks observe the Federal Reserve's Columbus Day holiday. That includes Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, U.S. Bank, PNC, TD Bank, and Capital One. Credit unions also typically close, since many follow the federal holiday calendar.

The practical effect is mostly about timing. If you schedule a payment, deposit, or transfer on Columbus Day, it will not process until the next business day. For example, a direct deposit scheduled for Monday, October 13, 2025, may not appear in your account until Tuesday, October 14. The same applies to checks deposited at an ATM over the holiday weekend — they are generally considered received on the next business day, which can delay when those funds become available.

The Bottom Line: Quick Facts to Remember

  • Columbus Day is a federal holiday on the second Monday of October — October 13 in 2025.
  • Banks and credit unions close because the Federal Reserve observes the holiday.
  • The post office and federal government offices are also closed.
  • The stock market stays open on Columbus Day, unlike most federal holidays.
  • ATMs, online banking, and mobile apps continue to work normally.
  • Some states and cities celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead, and a few do not observe the holiday at all.