Kamal Ghorui
Planning a bank visit this week? It’s worth double-checking the holiday schedule before you step out, as branch closures can vary from one region to another. In India, bank holidays are a mix of national and state-specific observances, which means branches may not follow a uniform opening schedule across the country. This week, banks in many regions will remain closed due to the festival of Ram Navmi.
March 26: Banks will remain shut in Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Nagpur, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh on the occassion of Shree Ram NavamiMarch 27: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh will see bank closures for Shree Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain).
Upcoming holidays in March
March 31: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand will see bank closures due to Mahavir Janmakalyanak / Mahavir Jayanti. Several branches are expected to remain shut during the week due to festivals and state-level holidays. Alongside these, closures will also apply on the second and fourth Saturdays of March, in accordance with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. Given these scheduled interruptions, customers are encouraged to organise their banking requirements ahead of time. Transactions that require branch access, such as large cash deposits, cheque processing, and similar services, should ideally be completed before the holiday dates. Despite the physical branch closures, banking operations will continue through digital platforms. Customers can still carry out everyday transactions using online banking services, mobile applications, ATMs, and UPI, including fund transfers and bill payments. However, services that depend on in-branch operations, such as cheque clearances, demand draft issuance, and large cash deposits, will not be available on the days when branches are closed. Customers are therefore advised to plan accordingly and make use of digital channels during this period.
