Are banks open today? (2024)

It would be frustrating to go to the bank only to find it closed – especially when trying to run an errand that can only be completed in person (like closing a bank account). Here we look at Canadian banking opening hours and the holidays they observe to help you plan your trips to the local branch accordingly.

Canadian bank opening hours

Most bank branches in Canada operate on a six-day working week– opening Monday to Saturday and usually closed on Sundays.

There are, however, some branches that open on Sundays.

During the week (Monday-Friday), bank locations typically open in the morning between 8:00 am and 10:00. Be aware that banks open in response to the needs of their customers; as such, opening times are dependent on the specific bank and the area they operate.

Most banks will call it a day between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm, again depending on the area.

For example:

• Tangerine Bank’s cafe location typically operates Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Tangerine also opens on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
• National Bank of Canada opens Monday to Friday from 9:30 to between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The bank closes at 3:00 pm on Saturdays and doesn’t open on Sundays.
• Scotiabank opens from 9:30 to 5:00 pm Monday through Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, they close at 8:00 pm. The bank also opens on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm and is closed on Sunday.

The big five Canadian banks make their updated hours available on their branch locator pages:

• Scotiabank
• TD
• Royal Bank of Canada
• CIBC
• Bank of Montreal

That said, you can typically access external ATMs at any time of the day, all week long. Most banks also have online banking services if you need help when the physical branch is closed.

Bank holidays in Canada

Bank holidays refer to specific dates when banks closed due to a holiday. Most banks will close for all nationally recognized public holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving day. Depending on the region, some banks may be closed for provincial holidays too.

Below are most of  Canada’s national bank holidays.

• January 1 – New Year’s Day
• April 7 – Good Friday
• May 22 – Victoria Day
• July 1 – Canada Day
• September 4 – Labour Day
• September 30 – Truth and Reconciliation Day
• October 9 – Thanksgiving Day
• November 11 – Remembrance Day
• December 25 – Christmas Day
• December 26 – Boxing Day

Depending on where your branch is located, some banks will also close for provincial holidays like:

• • August Civic Holiday. Banks in provinces like Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ontario will be closed for their respective civic holidays which occur on the first Monday of August.
  • St-Jean Baptiste Day. In Quebec, June 24 is a provincial holiday.
  • Family Day. The first Monday proceeding February 15 is a bank holiday in British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Nova-Scotia, and Saskatchewan; other provinces and territories take similar holiday later in February.
  • Regatta Day. In St. John’s, Newfoundland, the first Wednesday of August is a holiday, weather permitting. If the weather forecast on that morning is not suitable for boat racing, the holiday will shift to the next day.

If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically considered a holiday, and most banks close accordingly.

Do banks open on Easter Monday?

Most banks and credit unions open like any other day on Easter Monday in Canada, although Federal entities like Canada Post will be closed.

Do banks open the day before Christmas?

Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in Canada. Most banks will open and operate on a full working day.

However, some institutions don’t open on Christmas Eve, and others may close earlier than usual to accommodate staff or adhere to the business hours of the building or shopping centre where they are located. Be sure to check what time the bank closes on their website before heading out.