Banks across select cities will be closed for up to four days between September 21 and September 27, 2026, halting physical services at major lenders such as SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, and PNB. According to the latest RBI holiday calendar, the closures vary by location and are organized according to regional offices and cities. September 21 will witness closure in Bhubaneswar and Thiruvananthapuram for Janmotsav of Srimanta Sankardeva/Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi, while September 22 will see Karma Puja closure in Ranchi. September 23 will see closures in Jammu and Srinagar for the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, and September 25 will witness Indrajatra closure in Gangtok. The RBI's holiday calendar is organized according to regional offices, so customers should note that not every holiday applies nationwide. As per The Times of India, bank branches in Assam and Kerala will remain closed on September 21, with Assam observing Janmotsav of Srimanta Sankardeva and Kerala observing Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day.
Bank customers planning to visit branches today, Saturday, September 19, 2026, should note that branches are open as this falls on the third Saturday of the month. According to reports from Mint and latest RBI holiday calendar updates, bank branches are normally closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays, which are public holidays for banking institutions. However, customers should still check their particular branch before visiting as bank holidays can vary by banking centre due to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) calendar including state-specific and regional holidays. The third Saturday exception applies to most banking centres, though specific closures may occur for regional observances. As per latest reports, except in cities where there may be other locally declared holidays, banks are expected to remain open on September 24 (Thursday). Major lenders including State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Punjab National Bank (PNB) are scheduled to remain open today, subject to state-specific holidays or local branch notifications.
Many essential banking transactions still necessitate a physical visit to branches, even during normal operating hours. As reported by Mint, common banking services that require branch visits include cash deposits above prescribed limits and cash withdrawals beyond ATM limits, issuing demand drafts (DDs)/pay orders above certain amounts, submitting or encashing high-value or third-party cheques, applying for or closing loans, and dispute resolution for failed transactions that require documents or physical forms. These services cannot be completed through digital channels and must be handled in person at branch locations. According to the latest information, bank branches will not process RTGS transactions that customers initiate at the branch during holidays or during the second and fourth Saturdays when the branch remains closed. For customers in Uttar Pradesh, September 19 is not listed as a bank holiday in the September 2026 holiday schedule, with the second Saturday falling on September 12 and fourth Saturday on September 26.
Despite physical branch closures, digital banking services remain fully operational including UPI, internet banking, mobile banking, and ATM services. According to Mint reports, customers who only need routine digital transactions may not need to visit a branch. Digital transactions reach completion in less than one minute or within thirty minutes in most situations, with mobile banking and internet banking transactions processing without delays during holidays. 24/7 Availability: RTGS, NEFT, UPI and internet banking services operate continuously throughout the holidays, allowing customers to transfer funds, pay bills and shop online at any hour of the day, including Sundays, second and fourth Saturdays and on official bank holidays. The RBI releases a monthly list of state-wise bank holidays to ensure customers don't feel inconvenience and can plan their banking tasks accordingly.
The week ahead shows mixed operations with September 21, 2026 being closed in select centres for regional holidays, while September 26, 2026 will see closed nationwide due to the fourth Saturday. As reported by Mint, September 21 will witness closure in Guwahati, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram for regional observances, with other regional closures following during the week. The September 22, 2026 closure is specific to Ranchi for Karma Puja, and September 23, 2026 will see closures in Jammu and Srinagar for the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji. Bank branches in select cities will remain closed for 6 days in total on account of regional festivals and observances between September 21 and September 27, along with the regular weekly holidays. Customers should still check with their local branch in case of any city- or state-specific holiday. According to The Times of India, September 22 will see banks closed in Jharkhand for Karma Puja, while September 23 will see closures in Jammu & Kashmir for Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's birthday.
