Are Banks Open on the Second Saturday?
In India, no — banks are closed on the second Saturday of every month, and on the fourth Saturday too. This is an RBI rule in force since September 1, 2015: the 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays are full working days. Check today’s live status for your state on our India bank holiday checker.
In the United States there is no “second Saturday” rule at all — Saturday opening is each bank’s own choice, and most large banks open with reduced morning hours.
The RBI Saturday rule, exactly
The Reserve Bank of India declared the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month as holidays for all scheduled commercial banks, and lengthened working hours on the remaining working days to compensate. Sundays are closed as well, so a typical month has about 8 scheduled bank closures before festivals are even counted.
The classic gotcha is the 5th Saturday: in months with five Saturdays, the 5th is a normal working day. Bank staff work, branches open, and clearing runs as usual. If you’re planning a branch visit in a five-Saturday month, the 5th Saturday is often the quietest day to go.
What stays open on 2nd and 4th Saturdays
Only branch counters close. UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, ATMs, mobile apps and card payments all run normally on Saturdays — including 2nd and 4th Saturdays. Cheque clearances and anything needing a branch officer wait until the next working day.
This applies uniformly across India: every state and union territory follows the same RBI Saturday rule. Festival holidays vary by state, but Saturdays never do.
Second Saturday vs. the US
American readers land on this question too, so here’s the contrast: US banks have no Saturday-closure rule. Federal holidays never fall on a “second Saturday” pattern — when a holiday lands on a Saturday, most banks observe it on the preceding Friday instead.
Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo typically open branches on Saturdays from about 9 AM to 1 PM. In India, no bank opens on a 2nd or 4th Saturday — the RBI rule is mandatory, not optional.
Planning around it
If a payment, EMI or cheque deadline lands on a 2nd or 4th Saturday, treat it like a Sunday: schedule it for Friday or use digital channels. Salary credits via NEFT/RTGS still process, but branch-issued demand drafts and KYC updates do not.
Our India state pages show the Saturday rule alongside each state’s festival holidays — Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka and every other state and UT.
Quick answers
Are banks open on the second Saturday in India?
No. Under RBI rules in force since September 1, 2015, banks across India are closed on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month. The 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays are normal working days.
Are banks open on the 5th Saturday?
Yes. In months with five Saturdays, the 5th Saturday is a full working day in India — only the 2nd and 4th Saturdays are RBI holidays.
Is the second-Saturday rule the same in every Indian state?
Yes. The 2nd and 4th Saturday closure is an RBI rule that applies uniformly to all states and union territories. Only festival holidays vary by state.
Do ATMs work on the second Saturday?
Yes. ATMs, UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, mobile banking and card payments work normally on 2nd and 4th Saturdays — only branch counters close.
Are US banks closed on the second Saturday?
No — the US has no second-Saturday rule. Saturday opening is each bank’s choice; most large US banks open with reduced morning hours.
Why did RBI introduce the Saturday rule?
In 2015 the RBI made 2nd and 4th Saturdays holidays for bank staff while extending working hours on working days, balancing employee welfare with customer access through digital channels.