Bank Holidays October 2026: October is packed with festivals and public holidays, which means bank customers may find branches closed on several days during the month. The holiday calendar begins with Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 and includes major occasions such as Dussehra, Durga Puja, Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti and Karva Chauth.
However, bank holidays are not the same across all parts of India. Some holidays are observed nationwide, while others apply only to particular states or cities. Banks also remain closed on Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.
If you need to deposit a cheque, prepare a bank draft or complete any work that requires a branch visit, checking the applicable holiday for your city in advance can help avoid inconvenience.
October 2026 Bank Holiday List
Here is the major holiday schedule for October:
- October 2, Friday: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti — banks closed across the country.
- October 4, Sunday: Weekly holiday.
- October 10, Saturday: Second Saturday — nationwide bank holiday.
- October 11, Sunday: Weekly holiday.
- October 17, Saturday: Maha Saptami — holiday in Agartala and some other eastern regions.
- October 18, Sunday: Weekly holiday.
- October 19, Monday: Dussehra-related holiday, including Maha Ashtami/Mahanavami — branches closed in cities such as Chennai, Guwahati, Patna, Kolkata and Ranchi.
- October 20, Tuesday: Dussehra/Vijayadashami — bank holiday in most parts of the country.
- October 21 to 23: Regional Durga Puja holidays in several locations, including Gangtok, Agartala, Kolkata and Bengaluru.
- October 22, Thursday: Durga Puja/Darshan — bank branches in Sikkim will remain closed.
- October 23, Friday: Durga Puja — bank holiday in Sikkim.
- October 24, Saturday: Fourth Saturday — nationwide bank holiday.
- October 25, Sunday: Weekly holiday.
- October 26, Monday: Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti/Lakshmi Puja — holiday in places including Shimla, Chandigarh, Jammu and Srinagar.
- October 29, Thursday: Karva Chauth — bank branches in Himachal Pradesh will remain closed.
- October 31, Saturday: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti — bank holiday in Gujarat.
Since several of these are regional holidays, customers should check the holiday applicable to their particular city and bank branch before planning a visit.
What Happens to Banking Services on Holidays?
A bank branch being closed does not mean that all banking facilities stop working. Most digital and self-service channels generally continue to remain available during bank holidays.
Customers can use services such as:
- UPI: Digital payments through apps such as Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm.
- Mobile Banking: Banking transactions and account-related services through the bank’s mobile application.
- Net Banking: Online banking facilities through the bank’s website.
- NEFT: Online fund transfers.
- RTGS: Electronic transfers, including high-value transactions.
- IMPS: Instant money transfers.
- ATMs: Cash withdrawals and other available ATM services.
For services that require a physical branch, such as certain cheque, draft or documentation-related work, customers should plan their visit according to the applicable holiday calendar.
Disclaimer
Bank holiday schedules can differ by state, city and individual branch. The information above is provided for general awareness and should not be treated as a substitute for the latest holiday notification issued by your bank or the Reserve Bank of India. Customers are advised to confirm the applicable holiday before visiting a branch.