In a significant move, Citibank has announced plans to shut down all of its branches across the United States for a full 24 hours, which is set to occur around the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. This decision means that customers will need to adjust their banking activities as this important day draws near.
For those who were hoping to visit a physical branch to make transactions or seek assistance with their accounts ahead of this federal holiday, they may find themselves facing challenges due to the closure. The holiday falls on January 19 this year, and Citibank’s decision to close all 3,600 of its locations nationwide is part of a broader trend among banks during federal holidays.
It’s worth noting that such closures are not unique to Citibank; many financial institutions in the U.S., including other major banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America, also suspend operations on federal holidays. This widespread practice means that customers have limited options when planning their banking needs around these dates.
Interestingly, Bank of America has made an effort to inform its clients about upcoming holiday closures by detailing them on its website. They advise customers that while it’s possible to set up domestic and international transfers on weekends and federal holidays, those requests won’t be processed until the following business day. Therefore, anyone looking to deposit cash directly into their accounts prior to Martin Luther King Day should do so before the banks close their doors for the holiday.
During this 24-hour closure on Martin Luther King Day, customers will not have access to many of the banking services they typically rely on. However, Citibank does recognize other holidays throughout the year, including New Year’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
Despite the branch closures, there is a silver lining: ATMs will remain operational and accessible to customers at all times, providing a means for basic transactions, depending on the location’s availability.
In contrast, some retailers choose to remain open on federal holidays. For instance, Costco has opted not to follow suit with the bank closures and will welcome shoppers during its regular business hours on Martin Luther King Day, from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., just as it did in the previous year. Costco typically offers discounts in recognition of federal holidays but only closes its doors for specific occasions, having already shut down for 24 hours earlier this month for New Year’s Day.
Looking ahead, Costco has outlined its holiday schedule for the remainder of 2026, indicating closures on several significant days, including Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
