Mahashivratri 2025: Will banks be closed on Wednesday, February 26?
Banks will be closed in a number of cities today to mark the celebration of Mahashivratri. Here's everything you should be aware of Mahashivratri day of the bank.
Mahashivratri 2025: Will banks be closed on Wednesday, February 26?
Bank holiday today: Banks in the private and public sector throughout the country will remain closed on February 26 to observe the Mahashivratri festival, a significant date for Hindus. In accordance with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) calendar of bank holidays there will be the possibility of a bank holiday across all 22 cities across India today.
This Mahashivratri Bank holiday will be observed in accordance with the 'Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act' of the RBI.
However there are some cities that will not have a bank holiday this day because Mahashivratri is not an official bank holiday.
As part of Mahashivratri celebrations on 26 February in these cities - Mumbai, Aizawl, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Dehradun, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Lucknow, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Raipur, Ranchi, Telangana, Srinagar, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Bank holiday Mahashivratri vary widely between states and from region to region. They are generally closed throughout the country during National holidays, such as Gandhi Jayanti and Diwali. In addition bank holidays, Bank holidays take place each second and fourth Saturday and all Sundays.
As Shivratri is not an official holiday for the nation, bank customers are advised to confirm the date with their local branch to avoid confusion. Service that requires physically visiting the bank, like the ability to withdraw money using the use of a chequebook, won't be available in a number of cities and states because of the holiday that is observed today.
It is worth noting that customers and account holders are able to access the majority of banking services through online banking as well as SMS banking along with WhatsApp banking services for non-financial and financial requirements. Online banking services such as transfer of funds, payment of utilities and bills, UPI services, requesting chequebooks as well as downloading statements or booking vouchers will all be offered.
