Check where banks are open or closed on Labour Day and Buddha Purnima?

Several bank branches across India remained closed on May 1, 2026, as multiple regional and national observances coincided on the same date. The closures were primarily due to Labour Day (May Day), Maharashtra Day, and in some regions Buddha Purnima, resulting in a non-working day for banks in several states. Customers planning in-branch transactions were advised to verify local holiday status before visiting.

According to the Reserve Bank of India holiday calendar, bank closures on May 1 vary by state rather than being uniform nationwide. States such as Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Assam and Telangana were among those where bank branches remained shut. Major cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Guwahati were also impacted by the closures.

The day marked Maharashtra Day in Maharashtra and Labour Day in many parts of the country, while select regions also observed Buddha Purnima, adding to the list of declared holidays. Along with these, weekends and scheduled second and fourth Saturdays contribute to a total of 12 bank holidays in May 2026, as per the RBI calendar, when factoring in regional and national observances.

Despite branch closures, digital banking services remained fully operational across the country. Customers were able to access net banking, mobile banking applications, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services and ATMs without disruption. However, services requiring physical presence such as cheque clearance, demand drafts or verification processes were affected.

Authorities reiterated that bank holidays in India are state-specific and may differ based on regional festivals and government notifications. Customers were advised to consult the official RBI holiday list or confirm with their respective bank branches to avoid inconvenience during such multi-holiday overlaps.