Bank Holiday on Friday, December 26: Banks to Remain Closed in Select Cities, Check RBI’s Reason

Banks will remain closed on Friday, December 26, 2025, in a few parts of the country following the Christmas celebrations, as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar. After a nationwide bank holiday on December 25 (Christmas Day), customers in select northeastern cities will face another day of branch closures due to locally declared holidays.

Banks Closed in Aizawl, Kohima, and Shillong on December 26

According to the RBI’s official schedule, banking services will not be available in Aizawl, Kohima, and Shillong on December 26. These cities observe an extended Christmas celebration, and the respective state governments have declared local holidays considering the cultural and religious significance of the festival. Christmas is celebrated with great enthusiasm in these regions, which is why banks—both public sector and private sector branches—will remain shut.

It is important to note that banks in the rest of India will remain operational on December 26. Customers outside these three cities can carry out branch-related work as usual.

Digital Banking Services Will Continue Uninterrupted

Despite branch closures in select locations, customers need not worry about essential banking transactions. UPI services, mobile banking apps, internet banking, and ATM facilities will function normally across the country. This means users can still:

• Transfer money online

• Make bill payments

• Use debit cards

• Withdraw cash from ATMs

However, services that require a physical visit to the bank branch—such as document verification, cash deposits above ATM limits, or certain customer service requests—will only be available once banks reopen.

Complete List of Bank Holidays in December 2025

The month of December includes several national and regional bank holidays. Here is a simplified breakdown of key closures:

• December 25 (Christmas Day):
  Banks closed across India.

• December 26 (Christmas Celebration):
  Banks closed in Aizawl, Kohima, and Shillong.

• December 27:
  Banks closed only in Kohima.

• December 30 (Death Anniversary of U Kiang Nangbah):
  Banks closed in Shillong.

• December 31 (New Year’s Eve / Imoinu Iratpa):
  Banks closed in Aizawl and Imphal.

Apart from these dates, banks in most major cities—including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Patna, and Lucknow—will observe only the standard weekly or national holidays.

Why RBI Declares These Holidays

The RBI issues its annual bank holiday list under the Negotiable Instruments Act, taking into account:

• State-specific festivals

• Birth and death anniversaries of prominent local leaders

• Religious celebrations

• Cultural observances

Some of the key reasons for December holidays include:

• Statehood Day / Indigenous Faith Day (December 1)

• Feast of St. Francis Xavier (December 3)

• Goa Liberation Day (December 19)

• Losong/Namsung Festival (December 20 & 22)

• Christmas Eve (December 24)

• Christmas Day (December 25)

• New Year’s Eve / Imoinu Iratpa (December 31)

These holidays vary from state to state, which is why bank closures are not uniform across the country.

What Customers Should Do

If you live in or are traveling to Aizawl, Kohima, or Shillong, it is advisable to plan branch-related banking work in advance. Check with your local bank branch for reopening dates and working hours. For all other customers, keeping track of the RBI holiday calendar can help avoid last-minute inconvenience.

In summary, while December 26 is not a nationwide bank holiday, customers in select northeastern cities should be prepared for branch closures due to extended Christmas celebrations. Digital banking, however, ensures that most financial needs can still be managed smoothly.