With the Christmas season upon us, many people are gearing up for the holidays, which often brings about questions on business hours for various services. If you're planning to conduct banking transactions, send gifts through the postal system, or ship packages internationally, it’s important to know what to expect on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024.
Christmas Eve, which falls on Tuesday, December 24, will see most local post offices operating under regular hours. According to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), "on Christmas Eve, all local post office locations and services will be open. Mail will be delivered and collected from blue USPS collection boxes." So, if you need to mail out any last-minute gifts, you’ll be able to do so. Regular operations return on December 26, as all offices will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, with no mail delivery or collection occurring.
Banking needs will also be affected during this holiday. Many banks, including Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, and CitiBank, will be open on Christmas Eve with modified hours. It is recommended to "check with your local branch for their specific holiday hours," especially as some branches may have earlier closing times. These banks and others will, unfortunately, be closed on Christmas Day.
For those relying on shipping services, UPS will be fully operational on Christmas Eve, with all UPS Store locations opening their doors to customers. The company noted, "UPS will not offer pickup or delivery services on Christmas Day." This is important to keep in mind, particularly if you are expecting packages or need to send gifts on the day itself.
FedEx will also maintain its services on Christmas Eve, with most of its delivery and pickup operations running as usual. FedEx has confirmed, "most of FedEx’s services will be available on Christmas Eve... All FedEx Office locations and FedEx delivery services will be unavailable and closed on Christmas Day." This makes it clear for customers planning to ship packages to make arrangements on Christmas Eve.
It’s worth noting other retail sectors too. Many grocery stores, restaurants, and retail chains will open their doors on Christmas Eve but often with adjusted hours—so definitely check before you go out. Interestingly, the stock market will also close early at 1 p.m. ET on Christmas Eve, and all trading will be paused on Christmas Day, aligning with typical federal holiday observances.
To sum up, during the 2024 holiday period, various businesses are adapting their hours to accommodate the festive season, with significant closures expected on Christmas Day. For anyone needing banking, shipping, or postal services, operating hours on Christmas Eve will provide ample opportunity to get things done before the holiday festivities begin. Remember to check your local stores and banks for specific opening times, as schedules may vary by location. Planning will help you avoid any last-minute scrambles!
