The month of March 2025 will see banks across India close for 14 days, coinciding with both national and regional holidays. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the dates marking important festivities, allowing residents to plan their banking activities accordingly.
Bank holidays during this month include major celebrations such as Holi on March 14, which is celebrated nationwide, as well as Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31, which will see widespread closures across various states except Himachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
Here’s the complete list of days when banks will remain closed:
- March 2, 2025 (Sunday): Weekly holiday
- March 7, 2025 (Friday): Chapchar Kut (Mizoram)
- March 8, 2025 (Saturday): Second Saturday - nationwide closure
- March 9, 2025 (Sunday): Weekly holiday
- March 13, 2025 (Thursday): Holika Dahan - banks closed in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Kerala
- March 14, 2025 (Friday): Holi - banks will be closed across most of India, except specific states
- March 15, 2025 (Saturday): Holi (regional holiday) - banks closed in Agartala, Bhubaneswar, Imphal, and Patna
- March 16, 2025 (Sunday): Weekly holiday
- March 22, 2025 (Saturday): Fourth Saturday - nationwide closure
- March 23, 2025 (Sunday): Weekly holiday
- March 27, 2025 (Thursday): Shab-e-Qadr - banks closed in Jammu and Srinagar
- March 28, 2025 (Friday): Jumat-ul-Vida - banks closed in Jammu and Kashmir
- March 30, 2025 (Sunday): Weekly holiday
- March 31, 2025 (Monday): Eid-ul-Fitr across most states
While banks will be closed for these holidays, customers can still access 24/7 ATMs, as well as use online banking and payment services such as UPI and mobile apps for their banking needs. Hence, individuals should take advantage of these digital platforms to continue their banking transactions during closure periods.
The RBI determined the holiday schedule not only based on national observances but also regional festivities to respect cultural practices across the country. All Sundays and second and fourth Saturdays are set as holidays, and they will not alter even with regional holidays. This year, the overlap of national and regional celebrations gives bank employees several long weekends.
To avoid any inconveniences, residents are encouraged to plan their banking visits and transactions well ahead of time, especially around impactful dates like Holi and Eid. There’s no need to rush on the last working day before holidays; checking service availability systematically can help manage time efficiently.
Importance also lies in ensuring timely bill payments, avoiding delays with loan EMIs, and maintaining smooth business transactions. Customers are advised to verify the local holiday lists and bank operational hours to prepare adequately for these bank holidays.
March 2025 promises to be especially festive, with celebrations and observances affecting banking operations significantly. It retains all the potential for joyous events, making sufficient planning around banking tasks imperative.
Stay updated, mark calendars, and prepare accordingly to manage financial tasks efficiently well during this festive month!