Yes, banks are closed in several Indian cities on May 12, 2025, due to Buddha Purnima, a significant holiday observed in multiple states. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar, banks will be closed in the following regions:
- States/Cities Affected: Agartala, Aizawl, Belapur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Itanagar, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Ranchi, Shimla, and Srinagar, covering states like Tripura, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
- Reason: Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak, celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha and is recognized as a bank holiday in these regions.
- Nationwide Status: This is not a nationwide bank holiday, so banks in other states not listed above will remain open unless affected by local observances. For example, banks are operational in states like Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, unless specified otherwise by regional authorities.
- Digital Banking: While physical bank branches are closed in the affected areas, online banking services, mobile banking, UPI, and ATMs will remain fully operational, allowing customers to perform transactions without interruption.
- Additional Context: The closure coincides with heightened India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor, leading to instructions from the Department of Financial Services for banks to ensure sufficient cash availability in ATMs, especially in border areas, despite the holiday.
Recommendation: If you need to visit a bank branch, check with your local branch or refer to the RBI’s official holiday list, as closures vary by state. For urgent transactions, use digital banking services to avoid delays.
If you’re in a specific city or state, let me know, and I can confirm the status for you!