Banks to Remain Mostly Open During Diwali Week From November 1 to 8
Bank customers across India are advised to check their local branch holiday schedules before planning visits during the Diwali week from November 1 to 8, 2026. Although the period includes important festival celebrations, banks will largely remain open on regular working days. The main nationwide closures during this period will fall on November 1 and November 8, both Sundays.
A separate regional holiday will affect bank branches in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya on November 2 because of the Nongkrem Dance Festival. Apart from these closures, most bank branches are expected to follow their regular working schedules during the week.
Dhanteras will be celebrated on Friday, November 6. However, it is not listed as a general bank holiday in the published holiday calendar. Customers can therefore expect regular banking operations on that day, subject to local branch notifications.
Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, November 8. Since it falls on a Sunday, bank branches across the country will remain closed for their regular weekly holiday.
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Date-Wise Bank Holiday Details From November 1 to 8
The following is the expected bank branch schedule during the period. Regional holidays may apply to specific districts or cities.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday details |
| November 1 | Sunday | Weekly holiday across India |
| November 2 | Monday | Nongkrem Dance holiday in East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya |
| November 3 | Tuesday | Regular banking day |
| November 4 | Wednesday | Regular banking day |
| November 5 | Thursday | Regular banking day |
| November 6 | Friday | Dhanteras; no general bank holiday |
| November 7 | Saturday | Regular working Saturday |
| November 8 | Sunday | Weekly holiday across India; Diwali |
November 1 is a Sunday. Regional observances including Haryana Day, Kannada Rajyotsava, Puducherry Liberation Day and Lhabab Duchen in Sikkim also fall on this date. However, bank branches will already be closed because of the regular Sunday holiday.
On November 2, bank branches in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya will remain closed for the Nongkrem Dance Festival. The Meghalaya government has officially declared this a local bank holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Customers in other parts of the country should check their respective branch schedules.
November 3, 4 and 5 are regular working days in the published schedule. Customers can visit their bank branches for routine services on these dates.
November 6 is Dhanteras, an important day during the Diwali festival. It falls on a Friday in 2026. Banks are not generally scheduled to close for Dhanteras, so regular branch operations are expected.
November 7 is Choti Diwali and falls on a Saturday. It is the first Saturday of the month and is expected to remain a working day for banks. November 8 is a Sunday and also the main Diwali celebration date. Bank branches will remain closed nationwide.
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Will Banks Remain Open on Dhanteras?
Many customers may want to visit banks during Dhanteras for cash withdrawals, deposits, account-related work and other financial transactions. In 2026, Dhanteras falls on November 6, which is a Friday.
According to the published November bank holiday schedule, Dhanteras is not listed as a general bank closure. Therefore, public and private sector bank branches are expected to operate according to their normal Friday working hours.
There is no single special Dhanteras banking timetable applicable to every bank across India. Branch opening and closing times can differ depending on the bank and location. Customers who need to complete important transactions should confirm the timings with their local branch.
Those planning to visit a branch for services such as cash deposits, cheque-related work, demand drafts or locker access should preferably complete their work during regular banking hours rather than waiting until the last minute of the festival period.
Which Banking Services Will Be Available During Holidays?
Even when bank branches remain closed, customers can continue using several digital banking facilities. Online banking services help customers manage their accounts and carry out financial transactions without visiting a physical branch.
The following services are generally available during bank holidays, subject to the bank's systems and scheduled maintenance.
UPI payments: Customers can use UPI applications to transfer money, make payments at shops and pay bills. These services generally operate around the clock.
Mobile banking: Bank mobile applications allow customers to check account balances, view transaction statements and carry out supported fund transfers.
Internet banking: Customers can access online banking portals for account management, fund transfers and other available services.
ATM services: Cash withdrawals, balance enquiries and other supported ATM transactions can generally be carried out during bank holidays. Availability depends on the ATM and cash supply.
Card transactions: Debit and credit cards can generally be used for eligible online and in-store purchases, subject to card limits and service availability.
However, some services still require a physical bank branch. These may include locker access, certain cash transactions, document verification, account-related requests and other activities that require bank staff.
Cheque-related processing and some branch-based services may also be affected by holidays. Customers should plan such transactions in advance if the due date falls during a closure.
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Why Customers Should Check Their Regional Bank Holiday Calendar
Bank holidays in India are not identical across all states. The Reserve Bank of India publishes holiday schedules that include national observances as well as regional festivals and local occasions.
A bank holiday announced for one state or district does not automatically apply to every branch across the country. This is why customers should check the holiday notification applicable to their location before visiting a bank.
For example, the November 2 Nongkrem Dance holiday applies to bank branches in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. It does not mean that banks in other states will also remain closed on that date.
Similarly, some festival holidays later in November will apply only to selected states and cities. Customers should not assume that every festival-related closure is a nationwide bank holiday.
The November 1 to 8 schedule is relatively straightforward, with Sunday closures, one local holiday in Meghalaya and regular working days during the remaining period.
Important Things to Remember Before Visiting a Bank
Customers who have urgent banking work during the Diwali period should avoid postponing important transactions until the festival dates. Completing cheque deposits, cash-related work and documentation before the holidays can help prevent delays.
People who depend on branch services should also confirm whether their local branch follows any additional regional holiday notification. Bank websites, official notifications and customer care services can help customers verify branch timings.
Digital banking facilities offer an alternative when physical branches are closed, but customers should ensure that their mobile banking applications and payment services are working properly before relying on them for urgent transactions.
Overall, banks across India are expected to follow mostly normal working schedules from November 1 to 8, 2026. The key closures are the Sunday holidays on November 1 and November 8, along with the local Nongkrem Dance holiday in Meghalaya on November 2. Dhanteras on November 6 and Choti Diwali on November 7 are not listed as general bank holidays. Customers should confirm their local branch schedule before making a visit
