Bank Holiday Today, 18 February: Are Banks Open or Closed? Check State-Wise List
All public and private sector banks across India are functioning normally today, February 18, except in Sikkim, where banking services remain suspended due to the festival of Losar.
Because of the state-specific holiday, major lenders including SBI, HDFC Bank, PNB, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and other financial institutions are closed in Sikkim. However, bank branches in the rest of the country are open and operating as per regular working hours.
How Bank Holidays Are Decided
Bank holidays in India are determined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which releases an official holiday calendar at the beginning of every year. Banks follow this RBI calendar strictly.
The RBI classifies bank holidays into three categories:
- Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act
- Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) holidays
- Banks’ closing of accounts
Holiday schedules may vary from state to state depending on regional festivals and local observances. However, all banks across India remain closed on national holidays such as Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti.
Additionally, banks are shut nationwide on all Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.
Upcoming Bank Holidays in February
- February 18 (Wednesday): Bank holiday in Gangtok, Sikkim for Losar
- February 19 (Thursday): Banks closed in Mumbai, Nagpur and Belapur (Maharashtra) for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
- February 20 (Friday): Bank holiday in Aizawl (Mizoram) and Imphal (Manipur) for State Day / Statehood Day
- February 22 (Sunday): Nationwide weekly holiday
- February 28 (Saturday): Nationwide holiday for fourth Saturday
Customers are advised to check local holiday notifications before planning branch visits. Digital banking services such as mobile banking, net banking and ATMs remain available even on holidays.
