Are Banks Open on Christmas Eve?
Most major banks will be open on Christmas Eve 2018, even though it’s a federal holiday and generally recognized as a bank holiday. Still, some banks do observe Christmas Eve. We’ll discuss which ones will open their doors before Santa lands his sleigh. And don’t worry — there are plenty of ways to access your money for some last-minute gift shopping regardless of whether your bank is opened or closed on Christmas Eve.
Which Banks Will Open on Christmas Eve?
The following banks are scheduled to open on Christmas Eve in 2018:
Bank of America
Bank of the West
BB&T Bank
Capital One Bank
Citibank
BBVA Compass
Fifth Third Bank
HSBC Bank
KeyBank
Regions Bank
Santander Bank
SunTrust Bank
TD Bank
U.S. Bank
Wells Fargo
Which Banks Will Close on Christmas Eve?
The best way to figure out if your bank will close on Christmas Eve is to call or visit a branch ahead of time and ask. Do note that many individual branches are free to make their own schedules. So even if a bank is on our above list, the branch nearest you may be closed or may close early. Be sure to ask your bank ahead of time to find out for sure.
How Do I Access My Funds If My Bank Closes?
Even if your bank closes on Christmas Eve, you’ll likely still have easy access to your funds. Most major banks have their ATM areas separate from their actual offices, so all you’ll need to get inside is your debit or credit card. Then you can withdraw funds from the ATM.
Of course, you can access your money via any ATM. Some banks are part of national ATM networks. AllPoint, for example, has more than 40,000 ATMs throughout the country, and customers of the banks it works with can use these machines free of charge.
Most major banks also offer free mobile banking apps that you can use to deposit checks. In some cases, you can use your phone to withdraw funds without a debit card. Most of these apps also allow you to transfer money. For instance, several major banks have a service called Zelle built in to their mobile banking apps. This service works like Venmo or PayPal, allowing you to send money to people using their phone number or email address. In some cases, the transfer takes only minutes.
If you need customer service, most major banks run call centers 24/7. Some of the best banking apps even allow you to shut down your card if it gets lost or stolen. This prevents anyone from accessing your funds until you recover your card.
What Are Bank Holidays for 2019?
Most banks observe bank holidays. These are typically federal holidays when most major banks will either close early or for the entire day. Below are the upcoming bank holidays in 2019:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Day
Presidents’ Day
Easter
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
New Year’s Eve
Remember that banks can choose not to observe these holidays. It’s always best to contact the bank directly to find out it if the branch will beopen.
The Bottom Line
Some banks will open and some will close on Christmas Eve this year. The best way to find out if a bank is open is to call or visit a branch ahead of time and ask a banker. But even if your branch closes, you’ll still have access to your funds. Be sure to download any mobile app that’s connected to your bank. Most of these allow you to view your balance, deposit checks, transfer funds, turn off your card, and more.
Savings Tips
If you don’t have an emergency fund, now is a good time to start saving. To help you figure out where to save, we’ve determined the best savings accounts. Most of these have no monthly fees and offer competitive rates.
Another great way to save for the short-term is by investing in a certificate of deposit (CD). You lock in your money for a certain amount of time, usually one month to five years, in exchange for a high interest rate. These are the best CD rates around.
One of the best financial decisions you can make is to start saving for retirement as soon as possible. A financial advisor can help you develop a personalized plan. You can use our SmartAsset financial advisor matching tool, which links you with up to three financial advisors in your area who can help you. Our free platform gives you all the details you need so you can evaluate these advisors before working with one.
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