Tuesday, April 28, 2026
37.1 C
New Delhi

May Bank Holidays Begin: Here’s When Banks Are Shut This Week

Show Quick Read

Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom

  • Banks nationwide will close on select days, April 27-May 3.
  • Closures include Maharashtra Day, Labour Day, Buddha Purnima.
  • May 1 and May 3 are bank holidays; May 2 is working.

Bank Holidays This Week: If you are planning a bank visit this week, you may want to check the calendar first. Banks across India are set to remain closed on select days this week between April 27 and May 3, owing to a mix of national observances and the regular weekend break.

According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) official holiday calendar for 2026, customers will see closures linked to Maharashtra Day, Labour Day, Buddha Pournima and other regional observances.

Key Dates to Watch

Banks across most states will remain shut on May 1 (Friday) to mark Maharashtra Din, Buddha Pournima, May Day (Labour Day), and the Birth Anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu.

This will be followed by the usual Sunday holiday on May 3, resulting in two non-working days within the week.

Interestingly, May 2 (Saturday) will remain a working day, as banks operate on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month unless a specific holiday is announced.

Also Read : Is Gen Z Spending Real Money To Look Rich Online? Here’s What Financial Flexing Is Costing Them

Why Banks Are Closed

The RBI declares bank holidays under the provisions of the Negotiable Instruments Act, which governs transactions such as cheques and promissory notes. On these notified holidays, such transactions are not processed.

However, closures may vary slightly across states depending on local observances, making it advisable for customers to check with their respective bank branches.

What Services Will Continue

While physical branches may remain shut, digital banking services will continue to function as usual. Customers can still use mobile and internet banking, make UPI payments, and withdraw cash from ATMs.

Unless otherwise notified, most digital services operate without interruption even on holidays.

Also Read : New Income Tax Rules: How To Stop Extra TDS From Being Cut Using Form No. 128

A Look Ahead: May 2026 Holiday Calendar

The RBI has listed a total of 13 bank holidays in May, including weekends and regional holidays observed by public and private sector banks, including the State Bank of India (SBI).

Some of the key dates include:

May 1 – Maharashtra Din / Buddha Pournima / May Day / Birth Anniversary of Pandit Raghunath Murmu
May 9 – Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore
May 16 – State Day
May 26 – Birthday of Kazi Nazrul Islam
May 27 – Eid-Ul-Adha (Bakri Eid) / Id-ul-Zuha
May 28 – Bakri Eid (Id-Uz-Zuha)

Weekend Closures in May

In addition to these dates, banks will also remain closed on all Sundays, as well as on the second and fourth Saturdays (May 9 and 23).

Plan Ahead to Avoid Last-Minute Hassles

With multiple holidays lined up, customers are advised to plan banking activities in advance, especially if they need branch services such as cheque clearance or documentation.

Since holiday schedules can differ by state and region, checking with your local branch remains the safest way to avoid inconvenience. For everything else, digital banking remains your best backup during the holiday stretch.

Go to Source

Hot this week

Greece: Gunman opens fire at social security office and courthouse; police hunt 89-year-old suspect

Representative image Several people in Greece were wounded after a shooter opened fire at a social security office and at a courthouse on Tuesday. Read More

Lost since 1533: This Renaissance merchant ship has resurfaced in the Namib Desert after 500 years

PC: Google Gemini In 2008, a diamond mining operation near Oranjemund, Namibia, resulted in the discovery of a significant piece of history when the wreck of the Bom Jesus, a Portuguese merchant ship lost at sea in 1533, was found af Read More

India quietly redraws the map: The Indo-Pacific as strategy, not geography

India’s idea of the Indo-Pacific is far more than a simple geographic label. It is a strategic vision that stretches from the eastern coast of Africa to western shores of the Americas, bringing together vast regions under a single framework. Read More

Too Easy To Steal? Inside UK’s Shoplifting Epidemic That Has Keir Starmer Worried

Retailers estimate losses running into billions of pounds annually, with theft costs often passed on to consumers through higher prices Go to Source Read More

Heatwave grips India: WMO flags El Niño by mid-2026; IMD warns of below-normal monsoon

– The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated a likely return of El Nino conditions as early as May–July this year, with climate models pointing to rapidly rising sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Read More

Topics

Greece: Gunman opens fire at social security office and courthouse; police hunt 89-year-old suspect

Representative image Several people in Greece were wounded after a shooter opened fire at a social security office and at a courthouse on Tuesday. Read More

Lost since 1533: This Renaissance merchant ship has resurfaced in the Namib Desert after 500 years

PC: Google Gemini In 2008, a diamond mining operation near Oranjemund, Namibia, resulted in the discovery of a significant piece of history when the wreck of the Bom Jesus, a Portuguese merchant ship lost at sea in 1533, was found af Read More

India quietly redraws the map: The Indo-Pacific as strategy, not geography

India’s idea of the Indo-Pacific is far more than a simple geographic label. It is a strategic vision that stretches from the eastern coast of Africa to western shores of the Americas, bringing together vast regions under a single framework. Read More

Too Easy To Steal? Inside UK’s Shoplifting Epidemic That Has Keir Starmer Worried

Retailers estimate losses running into billions of pounds annually, with theft costs often passed on to consumers through higher prices Go to Source Read More

Heatwave grips India: WMO flags El Niño by mid-2026; IMD warns of below-normal monsoon

– The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated a likely return of El Nino conditions as early as May–July this year, with climate models pointing to rapidly rising sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Read More

Supreme Court Grants Relief To Self-Styled Godman Asaram, Halts Action On Ahmedabad Ashram Property

Supreme Court of India grants interim relief to Asaram Bapu, orders status quo on Ahmedabad ashram properties, questions adequacy of municipal show-cause notice Go to Source Read More

‘Goli Maro, Thok Do Culture’: TMC Claims BJP Issued Death Threats To Mamata Ahead Of Elections

TMC accuses BJP of issuing death threats to Mamata Banerjee as controversy grows around EC police observer Ajay Pal Sharma video ahead of polls. Read More

Fuel Prices & Elections: When Rates Went Up After Voting And When They Didn’t

While the government has dismissed the fuel hike report as, there is a visible pattern when prices were kept stable or even reduce them in the run-up to elections to woo voters. Read More

Related Articles