Bank holiday on Valmiki Jayanti: Will banks remain shut on October 26? Check list

Bank holiday on October 26NEW DELHI: India’s festive calendar continues to bring a series of holidays in October, making it important for bank customers to check the schedule before heading to a branch. On Monday, October 26, banks will remain closed in selected states for Laxmi Puja, Accession Day and Maharishi Valmiki’s birthday.While bank holidays vary across states depending on regional festivals and observances, customers planning branch visits should check whether their local branch is operating. Those looking to make large cash deposits, process cheques, obtain demand drafts or complete other branch-dependent work may need to plan their visits around the holiday schedule to avoid an unnecessary trip.Where are banks closed on October 26?Banks will remain closed in Tripura, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh on October 26, 2026, for the respective regional observances of Laxmi Puja, Accession Day and Maharishi Valmiki’s birthday.Customers in the affected states should check with their respective branches before visiting, particularly if they have transactions that require in-person banking services.Upcoming bank holidays in October 2026October 29: Banks will remain closed in Himachal Pradesh for Karva Chauth.October 31: Gujarat will see bank closures due to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary.These holidays do not apply uniformly across the country. The applicable dates depend on the state and the regional observance listed for each location.In addition to festival-related holidays, scheduled and non-scheduled banks observe holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, as per the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday schedule.Which banking operations will be affected?A bank holiday does not mean all banking services will stop. Customers can continue to use ATMs, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), internet banking and mobile banking applications for routine transactions, including fund transfers, bill payments and account management.However, services that require a physical branch visit may be affected on a holiday. Customers planning large cash deposits, cheque processing, demand drafts or other branch-dependent transactions may have to wait until their branch reopens.Checking the holiday calendar for the relevant state before making a branch visit can help customers plan transactions around the festive schedule and avoid unnecessary delays.