Banks across India will remain closed for four consecutive days from April 14-16, 2026, with the holiday period beginning on Tuesday, April 14 for Ambedkar Jayanti. According to the latest RBI holiday calendar, the closure extends through Wednesday, April 15 for Pohela Boishakh, Vishu, and Bohag Bihu, and Thursday, April 16 for Bohag Bihu celebrations. The holiday marks multiple observances including Ambedkar Jayanti, Maha Vishuva Sankranti, Baisakhi, Tamil New Year, Bohag Bihu, and regional New Year celebrations, with the extended closure affecting most states nationwide. As reported by ABP Live, April 14 marks a holiday in a majority of states due to several significant occasions including Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, Maha Vishuva Sankranti, Biju Festival, Buisu Festival, Tamil New Year's Day, Bohag Bihu, Cheiraoba and Baisakhi. The RBI categorises bank holidays into three broad segments: holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, holidays for real-time gross settlement (RTGS), and closures for banks' annual accounts, with state-specific holidays declared based on local festivals and cultural observances.
Bank branches will be shut in cities including Agartala, Ahmedabad, Belapur (Navi Mumbai), Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Ranchi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada. However, bank branches will remain open in Aizawl, Bhopal, Itanagar, Kohima, New Delhi, Raipur, Shillong and Shimla. As reported by ABP Live, banks remain operational in several cities where April 14 is not observed as a holiday, including Aizawl, Bhopal, Itanagar, Kohima, New Delhi, Raipur, Shillong and Shimla. While physical bank branches will remain closed in most regions, digital banking services will continue to work smoothly for all transactions during the extended holiday period. Customers are advised to check the city-wise holiday schedule before planning branch visits, as some locations may remain operational. According to The Times of India, branches in Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya will remain open on April 14, providing limited operational continuity in these states.
Despite physical branch closures, customers can carry out transactions through internet banking, mobile banking, SMS banking and WhatsApp banking platforms. According to ABP Live, ATM services, cash withdrawals, UPI payments and online fund transfers will also remain available, ensuring continuity of essential banking operations. However, services requiring branch visits such as cheque clearance, account-related documentation, or in-person consultations will remain unavailable during the extended closure period. Online banking services such as NEFT, IMPS, and RTGS are available to send money on bank holidays, while UPI services remain functional even on these days to send and receive money as they operate around the clock. Banks also offer services such as cheque book requests, account updates and other facilities through digital channels. As reported by The Times of India, services that require in-person processing, such as large cash deposits and cheque-related work will not be available on these days, highlighting the importance of digital alternatives during holiday periods.
ICICI Bank announced strong Q4 FY26 results on April 18, 2026, with net profit jumping over 8% year-on-year to ₹13,702 crore, compared to ₹12,630 crore in the same period last year. According to The Economic Times, net interest income (NII) for the fourth quarter rose by 8.4% to ₹22,979 crore, compared year-on-year with ₹21,193 crore in the same period a year earlier. The bank's board of directors recommended a ₹12 per share dividend with a face value of ₹2 each, subject to shareholder approval. As reported by The Economic Times, every eligible shareholder will receive a dividend payment of ₹12 per share for every share they own of ICICI Bank up to 24 hours ahead of the company's fixed 'record date' for the payment. ICICI Bank shares closed 0.10% higher at ₹1,346.80 after Friday's session, compared to ₹1,345.50 at the previous close. The bank's market capitalisation stood at over ₹9.68 lakh crore as of the week ended April 17, with shares delivering more than 138% returns in five years and over 50% returns in the last three years.
HDFC Bank shares ended 1.78% lower at ₹795.45 on April 16 following the recent leadership change involving the resignation of part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty on March 18, 2026. According to CNBC TV18, HDFC Bank reported steady business growth with advances under management at ₹30.58 lakh crore, up 10.2% year-on-year, and deposits at ₹31.06 lakh crore, rising 14.4%. A report by InGovern Research Services described the leadership exit as "one man's values dilemma" rather than a systemic governance issue, noting that the RBI has reaffirmed the bank's status as a domestic systemically important bank (D-SIB) citing sound financials and professional board structure. Shriram Subramanian of InGovern stated that the chairman's resignation appears to be "a one-off aberration and a personality-driven issue" with the bank continuing to report good financial results. The report highlighted that the bank's response aligns with global best practices in handling senior-level exits and noted that earnings growth and dividend payouts remain well-supported by a low-risk balance sheet.
