NEW DELHI, India | August 25, 2026 —
Bank customers planning branch visits this week should check the bank holidays August 25–30 calendar before leaving home, as branches will remain closed on different dates across several states and cities for regional festivals including Onam, Milad-un-Nabi, Raksha Bandhan and other local observances.
The closures are not nationwide on every date. Bank holidays vary by state and city under the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday calendar, which means a branch may be closed in one region while operating normally in another.
The most important dates this week are August 25, August 26, August 28 and Sunday, August 30.
Digital services such as UPI, mobile banking, internet banking, debit and credit cards and ATMs are generally expected to remain available, even when physical bank branches are closed. Services requiring staff intervention, however, may have to wait until the next working day.
Are Banks Closed Today, August 25?
Banks will remain closed on Tuesday, August 25 in select locations for Milad-Un-Nabi, First Onam and Milad-i-Sherif.
The affected RBI banking centres include:
- Kochi
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Vijayawada
Customers in most other cities should find bank branches operating normally on August 25, unless their individual bank has issued a separate local notice.
This distinction is important because online searches such as “bank holiday today” can sometimes create the impression that all banks across India are closed.
That is not the case.
August 26 Bank Holiday: Major Cities Affected
Wednesday, August 26, will see a much wider set of branch closures.
Banks are scheduled to remain closed in several major banking centres for Id-E-Milad, Baravafat, Milad-un-Nabi and Thiruvonam, depending on the location.
Affected centres include:
Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram.
That means customers in major metros such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad should complete branch-dependent work either before or after the holiday.
August 28 Bank Holiday: Raksha Bandhan and Regional Festivals
Banks will again remain closed in selected states on Friday, August 28.
The holidays are linked to observances including:
Raksha Bandhan
Pang-Lhabsol
Friday following Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi
Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi
Ayyankali Jayanthi
The affected states include parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir, depending on the applicable regional RBI calendar.
Customers should therefore avoid assuming that Raksha Bandhan automatically means a nationwide bank holiday.
Holiday applicability differs by banking centre.
Is August 29 a Bank Holiday?
Saturday, August 29, is the fifth Saturday of the month.
Banks in India are generally closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, not every Saturday.
August 29 is therefore not a nationwide scheduled Saturday bank holiday.
Branches should generally remain open where no local holiday applies.
This is especially useful for customers who need branch-based services after the August 28 regional holiday.
Are Banks Closed on August 30?
Yes.
August 30 is a Sunday, so physical bank branches across India will remain closed as part of the regular weekly holiday schedule.
Digital banking services should remain available subject to normal system availability and maintenance.
Bank Holidays August 25–30: Quick City-Wise Guide
Here is the most useful way to read this week’s schedule:
| Date | Main Holiday | Major Affected Locations |
|---|---|---|
| August 25 | First Onam / Milad-Un-Nabi | Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada |
| August 26 | Id-E-Milad / Thiruvonam | Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Patna, Lucknow and several others |
| August 27 | No major nationwide RBI holiday | Most branches expected open |
| August 28 | Raksha Bandhan and regional observances | Selected states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, UP, MP, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Sikkim and J&K |
| August 29 | Fifth Saturday | Banks generally open |
| August 30 | Sunday | Banks closed nationwide |
Because the RBI holiday calendar is location-specific, customers should confirm with their branch before making a long or urgent trip.
Will UPI Work on Bank Holidays?
Yes, in normal circumstances.
UPI operates through India’s digital payment infrastructure and is designed for round-the-clock payments.
Customers should generally be able to:
- Send and receive UPI payments
- Scan QR codes
- Transfer money between linked accounts
- Make merchant payments
- Use supported UPI apps
A physical branch holiday does not automatically stop UPI.
INVC has previously explained the latest UPI payment-charge rules and what they mean for digital-payment users.
That article is useful for customers who are concerned about whether recent regulatory changes have made routine UPI payments chargeable.
Will ATMs Work During Bank Holidays?
ATMs generally continue operating on bank holidays.
Customers should normally be able to:
Withdraw cash
Check balances
Use supported cash-deposit machines
Generate mini-statements
However, individual ATMs can occasionally face cash shortages or technical issues, particularly during long holiday periods.
If you expect to need a large amount of cash, it may be sensible to withdraw it before a major local holiday rather than depending on one specific ATM.
Will Internet and Mobile Banking Work?
Yes.
Internet banking and mobile banking apps generally continue functioning during branch holidays.
Customers can usually:
- Transfer funds
- Check account balances
- Pay utility bills
- Manage deposits
- Download statements
- Make credit-card payments
- Use beneficiary services
- Place certain banking requests
However, some transactions requiring manual approval may not be completed until bank staff return.
What About NEFT, RTGS and IMPS?
Digital fund-transfer systems have become increasingly available beyond conventional branch hours.
NEFT and RTGS operate on a round-the-clock basis under RBI’s payment framework, while IMPS is also designed for immediate electronic transfers.
That means customers generally do not need to wait for the branch to reopen simply to send money digitally.
India’s digital banking architecture has expanded significantly in recent years.
INVC has also tracked broader changes in India’s payment-regulation framework under the RBI, reflecting the growing importance of electronic payments in everyday banking.
Which Banking Services May Be Delayed?
This is where customers need to be more careful.
Several services still depend heavily on physical branches or bank employees.
These can include:
Locker access
If you need to access a bank locker, wait for a branch working day.
KYC document submission
Physical verification may not be available when a branch is closed.
Loan documentation
Mortgage, vehicle-loan and business-loan paperwork may require branch staff.
Demand drafts
Some customers may still require in-person assistance.
Account opening or closure
Certain stages can require verification or signed documents.
Large cash transactions
Customers handling unusually large cash deposits or withdrawals may need branch assistance.
Cheque-related services
Cheque processing timelines can also be affected by holidays and clearing schedules.
This is why customers should complete time-sensitive branch work before a local holiday.
Will Cheques Clear on Bank Holidays?
Cheque-related processing can be affected depending on when a cheque is deposited and when the banking system processes it.
Customers should not assume that a cheque deposited immediately before a regional holiday will necessarily complete all processing on that holiday.
If a payment deadline depends on cheque realization, build in extra time.
Digital transfers are usually a better option for urgent payments where available.
Why Bank Holidays Differ From State to State
India does not have one identical bank-holiday calendar for every city.
The RBI publishes holiday schedules based on regional observances, local festivals and state-specific holidays.
That is why customers in Kochi may face a branch closure while customers in Jaipur or Kolkata may find banks open on the same date.
Likewise, festivals such as Onam are particularly significant in Kerala, while other observances have stronger regional application elsewhere.
The correct question is therefore not simply:
“Is today a bank holiday?”
It is:
“Is today a bank holiday in my city?”
Are SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and PNB Closed on the Same Days?
Public-sector and private-sector bank branches generally follow the applicable RBI holiday calendar for the location in which the branch operates.
That means branches of State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and other lenders may all be closed in a city where an RBI-notified holiday applies.
However, customers should still check their bank’s official app, website or branch communication because operating arrangements can sometimes vary for specialized offices or services.
Rajasthan Customers Should Watch August 28
For Rajasthan customers, August 28 is the key date in this August 25–30 window because of Raksha Bandhan-related holiday observance.
Customers in Jaipur and other parts of the state who have branch-dependent work should consider completing it earlier.
This is especially relevant for:
- Locker visits
- Loan paperwork
- Cash deposits
- KYC submissions
- Demand drafts
- Account documentation
August 29, being a fifth Saturday, could provide another available banking day where no separate local holiday applies.
Kerala Has the Busiest Holiday Window
Kerala customers face one of the more complicated schedules this week.
Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are affected by holidays around First Onam and Thiruvonam, with additional regional observances later in the week.
Customers should therefore plan branch visits particularly carefully.
Digital banking will remain the easiest route for routine transactions during the holiday period.
What Should Customers Do Before Visiting a Branch?
The safest approach is simple.
Before leaving home:
- Check whether the holiday applies to your city.
- Check your bank’s official website or mobile app.
- Call your branch if the transaction is urgent.
- Use UPI or internet banking for routine transactions.
- Avoid leaving cheque, KYC, locker or loan-related work until the last moment.
Customers may also find INVC’s earlier May 2026 bank holiday guide useful for understanding how RBI’s state-wise branch holiday system works.
Bank Holiday Does Not Mean Banking Stops
This is the most important takeaway.
A bank holiday primarily affects physical branch operations.
It does not mean India’s entire banking system shuts down.
UPI, ATMs, mobile banking, internet banking and many electronic fund transfers should continue to function.
The main inconvenience affects customers who need a physical branch, bank employee, locker facility or document processing.
So, before visiting a branch between August 25 and August 30, check the city-specific calendar first.
A two-minute check could save an unnecessary trip.
