Bank customers planning branch visits in October 2026 should check the holiday calendar before scheduling important work. With Gandhi Jayanti, Durga Puja, Dussehra, Karwa Chauth and several regional festivals falling during the month, bank branches will remain closed on multiple dates across different parts of India.

According to the holiday schedule cited in the source, banking holidays fall on 16 dates during October 2026 when weekends and regional holidays are counted together.

However, this does not mean banks across India will remain shut for all 16 days. Several holidays apply only to particular states, cities or RBI regional offices. Nationwide weekend closures and other widely observed holidays will affect a larger number of branches.

Customers who need to deposit cheques, prepare demand drafts, complete documentation or carry out other branch-dependent transactions should therefore check the holiday applicable to their location before visiting a bank.

Bank Holiday List for October 2026

Here is the holiday schedule provided for the month:

Since regional bank holidays vary, customers should verify the holiday calendar for their state or banking circle before postponing or scheduling a transaction.

Six Regular Weekend Closures During October

Apart from festival-related holidays, October 2026 includes regular Sunday and Saturday closures.

Banks will be closed on Sundays falling on October 4, 11, 18 and 25.

October 10 is the second Saturday of the month, while October 24 is the fourth Saturday. Bank branches generally remain closed nationwide on the second and fourth Saturdays.

These six weekend closures account for a significant part of the month's bank holiday calendar.

Durga Puja and Dussehra to Bring Regional Closures

The longest cluster of regional bank holidays comes around Durga Puja and Dussehra.

On October 17, banks in Agartala are listed as closed for Maha Saptami. October 18 is a Sunday, resulting in another regular branch closure.

On October 19, holidays associated with Durga Puja, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Ayudha Puja will affect bank branches across several centres, including Kolkata, Chennai, Patna, Ranchi, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar.

October 20 brings another major round of closures for Dussehra or Vijayadashami across many locations.

Some cities will continue observing regional holidays on October 21, while Gangtok is listed for additional closures on October 22 and October 23 for Durga Puja or Dasain.

This means customers in some locations could experience several consecutive days when physical branch services are unavailable.

More Regional Holidays Later in the Month

The holiday calendar continues after the Dussehra period.

October 24 is the fourth Saturday, followed immediately by Sunday, October 25.

On October 26, branches in selected locations including Agartala, Chandigarh, Jammu, Shimla and Srinagar are listed as closed for occasions including Lakshmi Puja, Accession Day and Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti.

Banks in Shimla are also listed as closed on October 29 for Karwa Chauth.

The final regional holiday in the supplied October calendar falls on October 31, when banks in Ahmedabad are listed as closed for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti.

Will UPI and Mobile Banking Stop on Bank Holidays?

A bank holiday primarily affects services that require access to a physical branch.

Most digital banking facilities are designed to remain available even when branches are closed. Customers can generally continue using UPI, mobile banking and internet banking for eligible transactions.

Apps and banking platforms can therefore still be used for many routine payments and transfers.

Services such as IMPS and other eligible electronic payment facilities can also remain available according to their respective operating arrangements.

ATMs should continue to provide cash-withdrawal services, while cash deposit machines can be used where available and operational.

However, a transaction requiring manual branch processing or verification may have to wait until the branch reopens.

Finish Branch-Dependent Work Before Long Holiday Periods

Customers expecting to carry out branch-specific work should pay particular attention to consecutive regional holidays.

Cheque-related work, documentation, demand drafts, locker visits and transactions requiring bank officials may be affected when a branch is closed.

Businesses may also want to plan cash requirements in advance during periods when several holidays occur close together.

Digital banking reduces the impact of branch closures considerably, but it does not replace every service offered at a physical bank branch.

Do All Banks Remain Closed for 16 Days?

No. This is an important point for customers.

The October 2026 calendar contains holidays on 16 different dates when nationwide weekends and state-specific holidays are combined. It does not mean every bank branch in India will remain closed for 16 days.

A holiday observed in Gangtok, for example, does not automatically require a branch in Delhi, Mumbai or Jaipur to close on the same day.

The actual number of closed days for an individual branch will depend on its location and the holidays applicable in that banking region.

Customers should therefore check their bank's local holiday schedule before visiting a branch.

Plan October Banking Work in Advance

October 2026 has a busy holiday calendar because several major festivals and regular weekend closures fall within the same month.

If you have important work that requires visiting a branch, checking the local holiday list beforehand could save an unnecessary trip.

For routine transactions, UPI, mobile banking, internet banking and ATMs should continue to handle many day-to-day banking requirements during branch holidays.

For anything requiring physical documents or assistance from bank staff, however, customers should plan around the holidays applicable in their city or state.