Private and public sector banks in India will observe two holidays next week on May 23 and 24, 2026, as per the Reserve Bank of India's schedule. According to reports from Mint, customers are advised to check local branches for specific holiday applicability, while online banking services remain available for transactions during these closures. The RBI has listed a total of nine holidays this month for all lenders, including major banks such as State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank.
May 23 (Saturday) marks the fourth Saturday of the month, when banks across India remain closed for regular operations due to the mandatory weekend holiday. May 24 (Sunday) is a weekend holiday, with banks shut for operations pan-India as it is a mandatory weekend closure. As reported by Mint, unless a specific public or regional holiday is declared, banks typically remain open on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of each month.
Banks were closed on Friday, May 1, 2026, for May Day/Buddha Purnima, and will remain shut on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, for Bakrid/Eid al-Adha. According to Mint, banks will also be closed on the second Saturday (May 9) and the fourth Saturday (May 23), along with five Sundays throughout the month. The holiday schedule varies by state due to regional and local observances, making it essential for customers to check with their local bank branches for specific holiday schedules.
Despite physical branch closures, essential banking services remain operational nationwide during bank holidays. As reported by Mint, customers can use UPI or respective bank apps for payments and money transfers, which work round-the-clock whether banks are open or not. Fund transfer requests can be made using NEFT/RTGS transfer forms, demand draft requests, and chequebook forms. Credit and debit cards, along with ATM cards, can also be obtained through card services during these periods.
