NEW DELHI, Aug 9: Bank branches across India remained closed over the weekend as August 8 fell on the second Saturday and August 9 was a Sunday, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday schedule.
The closures affected routine branch based services, including cash transactions, cheque-related work and other activities requiring physical access to banking outlets. The second Saturday is a scheduled bank holiday across the country, while Sundays are regular weekly holidays.
However, customers continued to have access to several digital banking facilities during the closure. Unified Payments Interface (UPI), automated teller machines, mobile banking and internet banking services generally remain operational on bank holidays.
The RBI’s August calendar includes several holidays that vary depending on state and regional observances. Besides regular weekly closures and second and fourth Saturdays, additional holidays have been listed for festivals and local occasions during the month.
Customers requiring branch-based services are therefore advised to plan transactions around the holiday schedule, particularly for activities that cannot be completed through digital channels.
The continued availability of online banking and payment platforms ensures that routine digital transactions can proceed even when physical branches are not operating.
The weekend closure also comes ahead of Independence Day on August 15, which will be another nationwide bank holiday.