January Bank Holidays 2027
Updated November 6, 2026 · Edited by the JanuaryCalendar.com team
In the United States, the January bank holidays in 2027 are New Year's Day (Friday, January 1, 2027) and Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 18, 2027). The Federal Reserve and most banks close on both; when January 1 falls on a Sunday, they close on Monday, January 2 instead. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, New Year's Day is the only January bank holiday, while Scotland also closes banks on January 2.
- New Year's Day
- Friday, January 1, 2027
- MLK Day (US)
- Monday, January 18, 2027
- UK bank holiday
- Friday, January 1, 2027
- Australia Day holiday
- Tuesday, January 26, 2027
- Republic Day (India)
- Tuesday, January 26, 2027
Bank holidays in January 2027 by country
The table lists the January 2027 bank holidays in each country, including substitute days when a holiday falls on a weekend.
| Country | Bank holiday | Date in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| United States | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18 |
| England, Wales & N. Ireland | New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Scotland | New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Scotland | 2nd January (substitute day) | Monday, January 4 |
| Canada | New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Australia | New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Australia | Australia Day | Tuesday, January 26 |
| New Zealand | New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| New Zealand | Day after New Year's Day (substitute day) | Monday, January 4 |
| India | Republic Day | Tuesday, January 26 |
Rules for each country are explained below. Bank holidays reduce the number of business days in the month; the January working days page shows 19 US working days and 20 in England and Wales for 2027.
Are banks open on New Year's Day and MLK Day?
No. US banks generally follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, and the Federal Reserve Banks close on New Year's Day and on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the third Monday in January. Most banks and credit unions close their branches on both days. More on each holiday: New Year's Day and MLK Day.
Weekends change the New Year closure. When a Federal Reserve holiday falls on a Sunday, the Federal Reserve Banks close the following Monday, so a Sunday, January 1 means banks close on Monday, January 2. When the holiday falls on a Saturday, the Federal Reserve Banks are open the preceding Friday, so most banks are open on December 31 even though federal government offices close that day.
Inauguration Day, held every four years on January 20 (next on Saturday, January 20, 2029), is a federal holiday only for federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area. It is not a Federal Reserve holiday, and banks operate normally.
What works on a US bank holiday
- Not processed: ACH transfers (including direct deposits and many bill payments), Fedwire transfers and check clearing do not settle on Federal Reserve holidays. Transactions started on the holiday are processed on the next business day.
- Still available: ATMs, debit and credit card purchases, and online and mobile banking keep working, although deposits and transfers may not post until the next business day.
- Instant payments: The FedNow Service and the RTP network operate around the clock, including holidays, at banks that offer them.
- Stock markets: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close on New Year's Day and MLK Day. When January 1 falls on a Sunday, they close the following Monday; when it falls on a Saturday, they stay open on Friday, December 31.
UK bank holidays in January
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, New Year's Day is the only January bank holiday. When January 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday moves to the following Monday. In 2027, it falls on Friday, January 1, 2027.
Scotland has two January bank holidays: New Year's Day and January 2. When either falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given, usually the following Monday or Tuesday. Elsewhere in the UK, January 2 is a bank holiday only when it is the substitute day for a New Year's Day that falls on a Sunday.
Bacs payments, which carry most salaries and Direct Debits, and CHAPS transfers do not process on bank holidays. Faster Payments run 24 hours a day, every day. GOV.UK publishes the official bank holiday dates for each part of the UK.
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India
- Canada: New Year's Day is a statutory holiday nationwide, and banks close. When January 1 falls on a weekend, banks usually close on the following Monday instead. It is the only statutory holiday in January.
- Australia: New Year's Day and Australia Day (January 26) are public holidays in every state and territory, and banks close on both. When either falls on a weekend, the following Monday is the public holiday. See Australia Day for the 2027 date and history.
- New Zealand: New Year's Day (January 1) and the Day after New Year's Day (January 2) are public holidays. When either falls on a weekend, it is "Mondayised" and observed on the next Monday or Tuesday. Regional anniversary days, such as Wellington's and Auckland's in late January or early February, apply only in those regions.
- India: Republic Day (January 26) is a national holiday, and banks are closed across the country. The Reserve Bank of India also lists state-specific bank holidays, so regional festivals such as Makar Sankranti or Pongal can close banks in some states.
Planning payments and payroll around January holidays
- Bills due on a holiday: A payment made on a bank holiday may not post until the next business day. For US credit cards, federal rules say that if the issuer does not accept mailed payments on the due date, such as a holiday, a mailed payment received the next business day cannot be treated as late. Other lenders set their own policies, so schedule payments at least one business day early.
- Payroll: Direct deposits move through ACH in the US and Bacs in the UK, neither of which settles on bank holidays. When payday falls on a holiday, many employers pay on the previous business day, so payroll files may need to be submitted earlier than usual.
- Year-end transfers: A transfer started on December 31 after the bank's cutoff time may not arrive until after New Year's Day. Allow extra time for rent, loan and tax payments due in early January.
Branch hours and payment schedules are set by each bank and can change. Confirm dates with your bank, the Federal Reserve, GOV.UK or the relevant government before relying on them.
Frequently asked questions
Is January 2 a bank holiday?
In Scotland and New Zealand, yes, with a substitute weekday when January 2 falls on a weekend. Elsewhere, January 2 is usually a bank holiday only when New Year's Day falls on a Sunday and the holiday moves to Monday.
Do direct deposits go through on bank holidays?
Not on US Federal Reserve holidays, because ACH payments do not settle on those days. A deposit scheduled for a holiday usually arrives the business day before or after, depending on the employer and bank.
Are banks open on New Year's Eve?
December 31 is not a federal holiday, so most US banks are open, though some branches close early. When January 1 falls on a Saturday, federal offices close on December 31, but the Federal Reserve Banks stay open, so most banks do too.
Can I use an ATM on a bank holiday?
Yes. ATMs, card payments and online and mobile banking normally work on bank holidays, although deposits and transfers may not post until the next business day.
Are banks closed on Inauguration Day?
No. Inauguration Day is not a Federal Reserve holiday, so banks operate normally, even in the Washington, D.C., area where federal employees get the day off.
Is the stock market open on January bank holidays?
No. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close on New Year's Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on Monday, January 18, 2027 in 2027.