Major U.S. banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, will close their branches on Monday, October 12, 2026, for the federal Columbus Day holiday. While customers will still have access to online banking and ATMs, some payments and transfers could face delays until the following business day.
Why Major Banks Will Close Across the U.S. on October 12
The nationwide closures coincide with Columbus Day, a federal holiday observed annually on the second Monday of October. This year, the holiday falls on October 12, affecting in-person banking services at many of the country’s largest financial institutions.
According to The US Sun, banks expected to close branches include Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, Citizens Bank, Santander and Goldman Sachs.
The report also names BBVA Compass and SunTrust Bank, although those names no longer represent independent U.S. retail banking networks. BBVA USA, formerly BBVA Compass, became part of PNC Bank in 2021, while SunTrust merged with BB&T to form Truist.
For customers who rely on branch services, the closures mean that routine activities requiring an employee’s assistance may have to wait until Tuesday, October 13.
That includes certain account inquiries, in-person transactions and services that cannot be completed through a mobile application or ATM.
The holiday does not mean the entire banking system will become inaccessible.
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Online Banking Will Remain Available, but Some Transactions May Be Delayed
Although physical branches will close, mobile banking applications, online account access and ATMs are expected to remain available.
Customers should still be able to check balances, review transactions, transfer money between eligible accounts and withdraw cash from functioning ATMs.
The potential disruption concerns the processing of certain transactions rather than a blanket suspension of digital banking.
The Federal Reserve observes Columbus Day as a banking holiday, affecting services used by financial institutions to move money between accounts.
In particular, the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network, which handles many payroll deposits, bill payments and electronic bank transfers, does not operate on the usual settlement schedule during federal banking holidays.
As a result, payments scheduled for Monday may not settle until Tuesday, October 13, depending on the transaction type, the bank and the payment provider involved.
Recurring payments, direct deposits and transfers between different financial institutions may therefore follow a different timetable from ordinary business days.
Customers can still initiate certain transactions through their bank’s website or application, but submitting a payment does not necessarily mean the receiving account will be credited immediately.
Some instant-payment services may continue operating because they use networks that function outside traditional banking hours. Availability depends on the participating institutions and the payment method selected.
What Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo Customers Should Expect
For customers of Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo, the most visible change on October 12 will be the temporary loss of access to ordinary branch services.
Banking applications and self-service tools are expected to remain operational, allowing customers to manage many everyday financial activities without visiting a branch.
The holiday may become more noticeable for people expecting time-sensitive payments.
For example, an employer that normally sends payroll through ACH may need to adjust its submission schedule to account for the holiday. A customer waiting for an electronic transfer may also see the funds arrive later than expected.
The exact outcome depends on when the payment was initiated, how the transaction is processed and whether the financial institution offers early or expedited access to funds.
Not every payment will be delayed. Transactions processed through available instant-payment systems, along with many card purchases and internal bank transfers, may continue normally.
The original report also raises the possibility of changes to fraud-related services during the holiday. That should not be interpreted as confirmation that banks will suspend fraud monitoring. Automated security systems generally continue operating, although access to certain employee-assisted services may vary.
Customers who need to resolve an account issue or complete a transaction requiring branch staff should check their bank’s holiday schedule before Monday.
