Bank Holidays From October 14 To 31: Check Important Dates Before Visiting Your Branch

The festival season is in full swing, and so is the bank holiday list for the month. Banks all over India will be closed from October 14 through 31 on a number of days because of national and state festivals. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the holiday schedule officially which can be accessed on their official website. Customers should also remember that the dates may vary from state to state. Although digital banking and ATMs will operate normally, official branches will remain closed on the mentioned days.

Diwali Week To See Extensive Closures

One of the biggest holiday periods will come in the week of Diwali, October 20. Almost all public and private sector banks would be closed during the Diwali festivities across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Most of the states will also celebrate Naraka Chaturdashi and Kali Puja on the same day, and this will result in longer closure based on local practices. Banks are expected to reopen the next working day, but note that transaction clearances and cheque settlements will likely be delayed.

The festivities go on with Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj on October 22 and 23, predominantly in northern and western India. Banks in states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan are likely to be closed on these days.

Regional Holidays To Follow

In the northeast, Ningol Chakkouba, an age-old festival of Manipur, will be celebrated on October 24, closing local bank branches. Chhath Puja will later see a series of bank holidays in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh on October 27 and 28.

The month will close with a state-specific holiday in Gujarat on October 31, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birth Anniversary and National Unity Day. The majority of the other states will operate as usual on that day, but customers in Gujarat need to make necessary arrangements.

Prior to these mid- and end-month holidays, October 17 too will be a bank holiday in Assam for Kati Bihu, marking the beginning of the harvest season.

Regular Weekend Breaks Contribute To The Break

Along with festival holidays, banks will be shut on all Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, according to the RBI calendar. These weekends, when added to festival holidays, can form longer holidays.

For instance, if Diwali is celebrated on a Friday and then over the weekend, the banks might find themselves closed for three days. This can impact branch-based services, such as deposit of cheques, loan formalities, or demand drafts. It is thus better to complete such work prior to the beginning of Diwali week.

Digital Services Will Remain Unscathed

Though physical shutdowns will take place, the majority of digital functions will be available. Clients can carry out fund transfers, payments, and balance inquiries through Netbanking, mobile apps, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), and ATMs. But any service that involves physical authentication or branch-level authorisation will open only on the subsequent working day.

Banks have urged customers to check local notifications, as holidays are not uniform nationwide. Each state’s regional office follows its own version of the RBI’s Negotiable Instruments Act holiday list.

Plan Ahead For Smooth Festivities

With some national and regional holidays in between October 14 and 31, customers must be aware of local calendars. Companies that depend on regular transactions or heavy cash withdrawals must plan ahead to prevent disruptions.

The RBI holiday calendar can be found on its official website. Also, most banks put up notifications on their Web portals. A bit of planning ahead of the festive season can enable you to get your financial chores done effortlessly and help you celebrate the festivities without any last-minute hassles.