Today is a day off: Banking services were disrupted on Friday due to a nationwide bank strike. If you have outstanding bank related tasks that need to be completed now, it is important to check whether lenders will be open or closed today.
All branches of private and public banks across the country will be closed today, September 12, as the date falls on the second Saturday of the month. Consequently, customers will not be able to access banking services in branches, although online services will continue to operate.
This is because all scheduled and non-scheduled banks observe mandatory holidays on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, as well as Sunday, as per the guidelines set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Lenders also discount national, religious, and regional holidays, although the list of such holidays varies by state. Another instance where bank branches remain closed across India is during public holidays announced in the press.
Also, the RBI public holiday calendar lists Srimanta Sankardeva’s Tirubhav Tithi as a holiday in Guwahati on September 12th.
What are working Saturdays for banks?
Banks in India are open for customer service on the first, third and fifth (if applicable) Saturday of the month. However, this depends on the specific holidays planned by the central bank.
Therefore, customers should be aware that banks are open every first, third and fifth (if applicable) Saturday, except on holidays.
When is your next day off?
Apart from the regular holiday on Sunday, the next bank holiday specified by the RBI is September 14, when banks in Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji and Vijayawada will remain closed on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
In September, private and public banks were scheduled to close for 16 days, including weekends. Some of the upcoming bank closures this month will be observed in connection with the celebrations of Samvatsari, Unitarian Anniversary Day, Karma Puja, among others.
Despite the holidays, essential banking services continue to operate across the country despite the physical closure of branches. However, customers are advised to check the RBI holiday schedule or check with their local bank branch before planning a visit.
Doing this ahead of time will help ensure that important banking tasks such as check processing or cash transactions are completed on time, especially during long weekends or holiday periods.
Digital banking, ATMs remain open
While branch services remain unavailable during national and regional holidays, customers can continue to use online banking or mobile banking services unless notified by the service provider of technical issues or any other reasons.
If you are having trouble with cash, you can easily withdraw money from ATMs as they are open 24 hours a day. Individuals can also use their bank’s app or UPI to make payments to various merchants and other people.
While bank holidays may temporarily impact bank branch operations, digital banking ensures your transactions run smoothly.
Additionally, fund transfer requests can also be made using NEFT/RTGS Transfer Forms, Draft Demand Request Forms and Check Book Forms. Credit cards, debit cards and ATM cards can be obtained through card services.
Services such as account maintenance forms, setting up standing instructions and applying for a locker are also available during the holidays.