Customers planning branch visits next week should take note of upcoming bank closures, as both public and private sector lenders will remain shut on select days between May 18 and May 24, 2026.
According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, banks across India observe a mix of national, regional, and weekend holidays each month. In May, there are nine such non-working days, including fixed weekend closures.
Weekend closures this week
For the upcoming week, banks will remain closed on two days due to routine weekend holidays:
May 23 (Saturday): Fourth Saturday – Banks across India will remain closed for regular operations due to the mandatory weekend holiday.
May 24 (Sunday): Weekend holiday – Banks will remain shut for operations pan-India as it is a mandatory weekend holiday.
Customers are advised to plan to avoid inconvenience, especially for services that require in-person visits.
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How bank holidays work in India
Bank holidays in India are not uniform and can differ across states depending on local festivals and observances. However, certain closures apply nationwide. As per RBI guidelines, all scheduled and non-scheduled banks remain closed on gazetted public holidays, along with the second and fourth Saturdays of every month and all Sundays.
Unless a specific regional or national holiday is notified, banks continue operations on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays.
Other key bank holidays in May
Apart from the weekend closures, banks have already observed and will continue to observe other holidays this month:
Banks were closed on May 1, 2026, for May Day/Buddha Purnima
May 27, 2026 (Wednesday): Bakrid / Eid al-Adha
Additional closures include the second Saturday (May 9) and all Sundays, including May 31
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Online banking remains available
While physical branches remain closed on holidays, digital banking services continue to function. Customers can carry out transactions using mobile apps, internet banking, and UPI platforms without interruption.
Services such as fund transfers through NEFT and RTGS, bill payments, and account-related requests can still be initiated online. Debit cards, credit cards, and ATM services also remain accessible.
However, users should stay alert for occasional maintenance windows, during which banks may temporarily pause certain services after prior notification. To avoid last-minute delays, customers should check with their nearest branch for region-specific holidays and plan their banking activities accordingly.
