New Delhi: The start of any week often brings with it the need to attend to banking-related tasks, whether it is withdrawing or depositing cash, or applying for a credit card. If you have any pending bank-related work for the coming week, it is worth noting a few important details. You wouldn’t want to arrive at a bank branch only to find it locked and be forced to return empty-handed.
Between November 16 and 22, banks in various parts of the country will remain closed for three days. This applies to both public and private sector banks, including the country’s largest lender, the State Bank of India (SBI), as well as ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Punjab National Bank. Before heading to a bank, account holders should check the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) holiday calendar to avoid any confusion.
On which dates will banks be closed?
According to the Reserve Bank of India, banks will observe three holidays in the coming week. These holidays are not nationwide; rather, they apply to specific states. The first holiday falls tomorrow, November 16, on the occasion of Chhath Puja. Banks will remain closed in Patna (Bihar) and Ranchi (Jharkhand) due to this festival. Operations at all banks—including SBI, HDFC, and ICICI—will be suspended in these two cities.
Additionally, Friday, November 20, marks the festival of Igas-Bagwal, which is celebrated in Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand. Banks will remain closed in Uttarakhand on this day. As this is a traditional folk festival specific to Uttarakhand, the closures are limited to that state; banks in other parts of the country will remain open. Furthermore, November 22 is a Sunday, which is a regular weekly holiday, meaning banks across the country will be closed.
Banking services will remain available despite bank holidays.
It is worth noting that even when physical bank branches are closed, digital banking services will continue to be available. Essential financial transactions can still be carried out. Money transfers will continue to function through various UPI apps, such as Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and others. Additionally, services like mobile banking, net banking, and ATMs will remain operational.
According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) bank holiday calendar, banking services will be affected next week due to Chhath Puja, Igas-Bagwal, and Sunday. However, digital services, including online banking and UP, will remain available throughout these holidays.
