Are All Banks Closed on Columbus Day? Who Stays Open and What Still Works

Most banks are closed on Columbus Day, which falls on Monday, October 12, 2026. The large national banks lock their lobbies, and the payment systems behind the scenes mostly stop. A few banks stay open, TD Bank being the clearest example, and your ATM, app, and some newer instant-payment rails keep working through the holiday.1TD Bank. TD Bank Holiday Hours, Open and Closure Schedule

Why Most Branches Are Closed

No federal law requires banks to close on Columbus Day. The reason the doors are locked is the Federal Reserve. Columbus Day is one of eleven federal holidays listed in statute, and the Fed shuts down FedACH and its large-value wire transfer services on those days.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 US Code 6103 – Holidays3Federal Reserve Bank Services. Federal Reserve System Holiday Schedule Without that backbone running, most banks see little point in staffing branches.

Bank of America closes its financial centers on Columbus Day.4Bank of America. Bank of America Financial Center Services FAQs Wells Fargo and most other large national banks follow the same pattern.

Which Banks Stay Open

TD Bank is the notable exception. It lists the holiday (which it calls Indigenous Peoples’ Day) as a day its stores stay open in 2026.1TD Bank. TD Bank Holiday Hours, Open and Closure Schedule Some community banks and credit unions also keep normal hours, but that varies by institution and location. Check your bank’s holiday schedule before driving over.

What Stops Moving on Columbus Day

Even open branches can’t push money through systems that are offline. Here is what pauses:

  • ACH transfers and direct deposits. The ACH network doesn’t process payments on federal holidays, so a paycheck or benefit scheduled to land Monday won’t arrive until Tuesday.5Nacha. ACH Payments Fact Sheet
  • Wire transfers. Fedwire is closed, so a domestic wire you initiate on Columbus Day won’t settle until the next business day.6Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Federal Reserve Board Announces Expanded Operating Days of Two Large-Value Payments Services
  • Check deposits. A check dropped into an ATM or mobile app will show pending and clear once the Fed’s systems come back online Tuesday.
  • Bill payments. Payments due on the holiday are generally collected the next banking day, and most lenders extend holiday grace periods to the next business day. Scheduling a day or two early removes any doubt.5Nacha. ACH Payments Fact Sheet

What Still Works

The holiday doesn’t shut down everything. Two instant-payment networks run around the clock, every day of the year:

  • FedNow. The Federal Reserve’s instant payment service makes funds available to recipients immediately, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If both banks are on the network, a transfer sent on Columbus Day settles in seconds.7Federal Reserve. FedNow Payment Flow Process and Funds Availability
  • RTP. The Clearing House’s Real-Time Payments network also runs 24/7/365 with instant settlement, handling transactions up to $10 million.8The Clearing House. Real Time Payments

ATMs dispense cash and accept deposits as usual. Online and mobile banking let you check balances, move money between your own accounts, and review transactions. Peer-to-peer apps like Venmo and PayPal process transfers on their own internal ledgers, though the bank-to-bank settlement underneath may not complete until Tuesday.

If Your Paycheck Is Scheduled for Columbus Day

This is where the holiday catches people off guard. Because ACH doesn’t run, a direct deposit scheduled for Monday, October 12, 2026, won’t arrive Monday morning. Many employers submit payroll early so the deposit lands the Friday before. Others let it process the following Tuesday. Your employer’s payroll calendar decides which happens to you.

If you’re counting on that deposit to cover a Monday bill, schedule the payment for the preceding Friday, or confirm with your biller that a Tuesday arrival won’t trigger a late fee. Most billers won’t penalize a holiday due date, but confirming beats assuming.

A Note on the Holiday’s Name

A growing number of states, cities, and companies have renamed this holiday Indigenous Peoples’ Day. TD Bank and Bank of America both use that name on their holiday schedules.1TD Bank. TD Bank Holiday Hours, Open and Closure Schedule4Bank of America. Bank of America Financial Center Services FAQs The federal holiday designation hasn’t changed, and the Federal Reserve follows the federal calendar.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 US Code 6103 – Holidays Whatever your bank calls it, the effect on your money is the same.