Guide
Bank Opening Hours on Bank Holidays
Branches usually close on UK bank holidays, but most day-to-day banking keeps working. Here is a service-by-service view of what runs and what waits for the next working day.
Reviewed for the 2026 holiday year
Bank holidays are non-working days for the UK banking system, which is why some payment types pause even though your card and app work normally. Use the table below as a general guide, then confirm specifics with your own provider.
What runs on a bank holiday
| Service | On a bank holiday | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| High street branch | Normally closed | Some in-store branches may open with reduced hours |
| Mobile app and online banking | Available | Scheduled maintenance is occasionally planned over long weekends |
| ATM / cash machine | Available | Branch-lobby machines may be inaccessible while doors are locked |
| Card payments | Available | Authorised in real time, seven days a week |
| Faster Payments transfer | Usually processed | Typically near-instant, including bank holidays |
| Bacs / Direct Debit | Not processed | Moves to the next working day |
| CHAPS same-day transfer | Not processed | Working days only, with same-day cut-off times |
| Cheque clearing | Not processed | Clearing cycles pause on non-working days |
| Telephone banking | Reduced | Emergency lines such as lost-card reporting stay open 24/7 |
Banks and building societies people ask about
We list these names for reference only, without logos or branding, and we do not publish brand-specific opening times because they change by branch and by date.
- Barclays
- HSBC
- Lloyds Bank
- NatWest
- Santander
- Halifax
- Nationwide
- Monzo
- Starling Bank
- TSB
- Bank of Scotland
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Co-operative Bank
- Metro Bank
- Virgin Money
- Danske Bank
Independent site — always check with your bank
Timing tips around the 2026 dates
- Move Bacs-based payments and payroll submissions forward when a cut-off lands on a holiday such as Monday 4 May or Monday 31 August 2026.
- Expect a compressed December: Christmas Day on Friday 25 December and the substitute on Monday 28 December 2026 leave few working days that week.
- In Scotland, 2nd January and St Andrew's Day affect local branches, while UK-wide payment cycles may still run.
Bank opening hours: FAQs
Are bank branches open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2026?
No. Branches close on Christmas Day, Friday 25 December 2026, and on the Boxing Day substitute bank holiday, Monday 28 December 2026. Many also close early on Christmas Eve.
Can I withdraw cash on a bank holiday?
Yes. ATMs, Post Office counters where your bank has an agreement, and cashback in shops all remain available on bank holidays.
Are in-store or supermarket bank branches open on bank holidays?
Some branches inside supermarkets or transport hubs open on bank holidays with reduced hours, but this varies by brand and location.
Do digital banks close on bank holidays?
App-based banks have no branches, so their apps and in-app support usually run as normal, though phone support hours can be reduced and non-Faster-Payments transfers still follow working-day cycles.
Will my mortgage or loan application progress on a bank holiday?
Usually not. Underwriting, conveyancing and completion dates run on working days, so a bank holiday typically pushes timelines to the next working day.