How to read the status: the Federal Reserve versus your branch
The status answers one question: is this a business day for the Federal Reserve Banks? That decides whether money moves between banks, so when the status answers “are the banks closed today?” with yes, it means payments between banks wait. On a weekday Federal Reserve holiday, and on every Saturday and Sunday, FedACH and the Fedwire Funds Service do not settle payments. The Fedwire operating hours name all Saturdays, all Sundays and the holidays on the Reserve Banks’ schedule as non-business days, and the Federal Reserve Board’s holiday schedule lists those holidays.
The status does not tell you whether a particular branch has its doors open. Each bank sets its own branch and phone hours. Whether a branch opens on a Federal Reserve holiday is the bank’s decision, so check your bank’s holiday notice or its branch locator before you go. Our page on bank hours explains how to find them and which days often bring shorter hours.
One case trips people up. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the Reserve Banks stay open on the Friday before, and only the Board of Governors in Washington closes. Federal offices take that Friday off. The status shows such a Friday as open for payments, even though post offices and federal agencies are closed. Our Federal Reserve holidays page explains the rule.
What “open” and “closed” mean for your money
- ACH payments and direct deposit. FedACH does not settle on weekends or Federal Reserve holidays: the Reserve Banks’ ACH operating circular excludes all Saturdays and Sundays from their banking days, and Federal Reserve Financial Services lists the holidays on which its services are closed. Regular ACH credits settle at 8:30 a.m. ET on a business day, according to the FedACH processing schedule. A transfer or bill payment to another bank that you schedule for a closed day is normally processed on the next business day.
- Wire transfers. Fedwire runs from 9:00 p.m. ET the evening before to 7:00 p.m. ET on a business day. Your bank sets an earlier cut-off for wire requests from customers.
- FedNow instant payments. The FedNow Service has a 24-hour business day every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. A transfer can arrive on a closed day if both banks offer FedNow.
- ATMs, debit cards and the mobile app. These are run by banks and card networks rather than the Federal Reserve, so a Federal Reserve holiday does not switch them off. A deposit still has to be credited, and under the Federal Reserve’s Regulation CC commentary, a deposit made at an ATM on a Saturday, Sunday or other day the bank is closed to the public is treated as received on the bank’s next banking day.
Are banks open tomorrow?
The status block shows tomorrow on its own line, so you can plan a branch visit or a payment a day ahead. Three situations deserve a second look.
Tomorrow is a holiday. Payments you schedule for that day settle on the next business day. Direct deposits dated on a holiday are moved by the employer or payroll provider to the business day before or after; which one is their choice.
Today is a holiday and tomorrow is not. The Reserve Banks reopen tomorrow, and payments held over the holiday settle then. FedACH does not wait until morning to restart: for the 2026 holidays, its holiday schedule shows processing resuming at 5:30 p.m. ET on the evening before the next business day: on the holiday itself for a Monday-to-Thursday holiday, on Sunday for a Friday holiday. Files can then be delivered to banks overnight. When the money shows in your account depends on your bank’s posting times.
Tomorrow is Saturday. The status will show the weekend as closed for payments. A branch may still open on Saturday morning; see below.
Weekends versus holidays
Saturdays and Sundays are not Federal Reserve business days, so the status shows them as closed even though they are not holidays. Some banks open selected branches on Saturday, and Sunday hours are less common. Our guide to banks open on Saturday and Sunday covers what works on a weekend and when weekend payments settle.
A Monday holiday creates a three-day stretch without ACH or wire settlement, from Saturday through Monday. Plan payments that are due on the Tuesday after with that in mind.
The next Federal Reserve holidays
Each card shows the next date on which the Reserve Banks close for that holiday, with a link to its guide. The list moves forward on its own as each holiday passes.