11:15 AM IST FRIDAY – People who are planning to visit bank branches today should check this update carefully. As per the holiday list released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks are closed today in some cities only. This is not a full India bank holiday. Banks are shut only in selected places due to local festivals.
In which cities are banks closed today?
According to the RBI January 2026 holiday calendar, banks are closed today in the following cities:
- Chennai
- Vijayawada
All types of banks are closed in these cities. This includes government banks, private banks, cooperative banks, and regional rural banks.
In other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, and many more, banks are open today and regular work is going on.
Why is there a bank holiday on January 16?
January 16 is a holiday because of regional festivals.
- In Tamil Nadu, the day is celebrated as Thiruvalluvar Day. It is observed in honour of Thiruvalluvar, a famous Tamil poet who wrote Thirukkural. This day comes during the Pongal festival period, and many government offices remain closed.
- In parts of Andhra Pradesh, the day is celebrated as Kanuma. It is an important festival in villages. On this day, farmers worship cattle, farming tools, and celebrate rural life.
Because of these festivals, RBI has declared a bank holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act in selected states.
What banking services will not work today?
In cities where banks are closed:
- Cash deposit and withdrawal at branches will not be available
- Cheque clearing and passbook updates will not happen
- Loan and account-related branch work will be postponed
For example, if a customer in Chennai wanted to submit a cheque today, the work would be done on the next working day. But a customer in Delhi or Mumbai can visit the bank today without any problem.
Another example – Cheque clears in 1 working day in 2026. But if the cheque is from Chennai bank and Chennai has RBI holiday, money will not come same day, even if Delhi bank is open.
What services will continue?
Even on a bank holiday:
- UPI payments
- ATM withdrawals
- Mobile banking
- Internet banking
- Debit and credit card payments
- Online Basic ReKYC
- Your Online transfer – RTGS, IMPS, NEFT
will work normally across India.
Important RBI reminder for you
- Banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays every month, luckly Jan 17 2026, is the third Saturday, so the branch will be open.
- January 26 (Republic Day) is a nationwide bank holiday
- RBI holidays depend on the state and city, not only the date
Easemoney Bottom Line
- Banks are closed today only in Chennai and Vijayawada
- This is not an all-India bank holiday
- Digital banking services are working But for any branch-based services, such as RE-KYC, can be delayed.
- You have to check the latest RBI city-wise bank holiday list before visiting the bank
