Banks across India will remain open today, May 16, 2026, as it is the third Saturday of the month. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), all private and public banks remain open today, with physical banking services suspended only on second and fourth Saturdays of every month. However, banks in some states can remain closed on account of regional holidays, making it advisable for customers to check when bank branches in their region are closed to facilitate smoother transactions. Major lenders including State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), and ICICI Bank will maintain normal operations today. As per RBI guidelines, public and private sector banks remain operational on the first, third and fifth Saturdays, while branches stay closed only on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Customers can visit their respective bank branches for regular transactions, including cash deposits, withdrawals, cheque clearances and other in branch services.
Physical banking services will be suspended in Sikkim today due to the state marking 'State Day', with all banks closed across the state. This regional closure affects banking operations for individual consumers in the state. The day, celebrated annually on May 16, commemorates Sikkim's integration with the Indian Union in 1975, when it became the country's 22nd state. Bank customers must note that banks offer services at their branches for 6 hours each day on all working days, opening at 10:00 AM and wrapping up customer dealing by 4:00 PM. Even on designated bank holidays, customers can continue to access digital banking services such as mobile banking, internet banking, ATM withdrawals and UPI transactions without interruption.
According to the RBI bank holiday calendar, May 26 (Tuesday) will see banks closed across Tripura due to Kazi Nazrul Islam's birthday observance. May 27 (Wednesday) will be observed as a holiday across India except for Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Bihar, due to Eid-UI-Adha celebrations. May 28 (Thursday) will see banks closed in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Goa and Bihar for Bakri Eid. Customers are advised to verify local holiday schedules in their respective states to avoid inconvenience while planning branch visits or important banking transactions.
The RBI categorises all bank holidays into three parts: Negotiable Instruments Act holidays, Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) holidays, and banks' closing of accounts. Banks remain open on first, third and fifth Saturdays of every month, while second and fourth Saturdays see physical banking activities suspended as designated holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, which regulates the issuing of cheques and promissory notes. It is important to note that bank holidays may vary from state to state depending on regional festivals or special observances, but there is no nationwide holiday scheduled for this date, with normal banking operations expected across most parts of the country.
