With the festive season underway, bank customers should plan their financial transactions carefully as several bank holidays are scheduled across different parts of India during the second half of October 2026. Banks will remain closed on various dates between October 15 and October 30 due to festivals, regional observances and regular weekly holidays.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) publishes the official bank holiday calendar, which varies from state to state depending on local festivals and celebrations. Customers planning to deposit cheques, issue demand drafts, complete loan formalities or undertake other branch-related transactions are advised to check the holiday schedule before visiting their respective banks.
Complete List of Bank Holidays in October 2026
According to the holiday schedule provided, banks will remain closed on the following dates in selected locations:
- October 17 (Saturday): Banks will remain closed in Agartala on account of Maha Saptami. Banks in most other locations are expected to remain open, as it is the third Saturday of the month.
- October 18 (Sunday): Banks will remain closed across the country due to the regular weekly holiday.
- October 19 (Monday): Banks will remain closed in Agartala, Aizawl, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi and Shillong on account of Mahanavami or Ayudha Puja.
- October 20 (Tuesday): Banks will remain closed in most parts of the country for Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra, subject to local holiday schedules.
- October 21 (Wednesday): Banks will remain closed in Agartala, Bengaluru, Gangtok, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram for Durga Puja or Vijaya Dashami.
- October 22 and 23 (Thursday and Friday): Banks will remain closed in Gangtok, Sikkim, for Durga Puja-related celebrations.
- October 24 (Saturday): Banks will remain closed across India on account of the fourth Saturday of the month.
- October 25 (Sunday): Banks will remain closed due to the weekly holiday. Lakshmi Puja is also observed in several regions around this period.
- October 26 (Monday): Banks will remain closed in Agartala, Chandigarh, Jammu, Shimla and Srinagar on account of Lakshmi Puja or Valmiki Jayanti, as applicable.
- October 29 (Thursday): A local bank holiday for Karwa Chauth is scheduled in Shimla.
Customers should verify these dates against the official RBI holiday calendar, as holidays differ across states and cities.
Digital Banking Services to Remain Available
Despite the closure of bank branches on holidays, customers can continue to use most digital banking facilities.
Online banking, mobile banking, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and ATM services generally remain available on bank holidays, allowing customers to transfer money, check account balances and withdraw cash.
However, services requiring physical branch visits, including certain cheque-related transactions and documentation procedures, may be delayed until the next working day.
Customers are therefore advised to complete urgent banking work in advance and use digital payment facilities wherever possible during the festive period.
Checking the applicable holiday schedule before visiting a bank can help customers avoid unnecessary delays and plan their financial transactions more efficiently.