Are banks open on Thanksgiving 2016?

On Thursday, Nov. 24, millions of Americans will gather around the dinner table — or the TV — to enjoy the staples that have made this holiday such a beloved one: turkey, stuffing, gravy and whatever other family traditions and favorites belong on the dinner plate.

The first Thanksgiving dinner — which was celebrated as an autumn harvest feast — was held nearly 400 years ago, in November 1621. That winter before, the Mayflower arrived in America and settled on land they called Plymouth, now in Massachusetts.

After the Pilgrims found success with their first corn harvest, Governor William Bradford planned a feast to celebrate and invited the colony's Native American allies. The celebration lasted three days and our Thanksgiving tradition grew from that point on.

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Is Thanksgiving a Bank Holiday?

The holiday is now celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. It's also one of 10 federal holidays. As a federal holiday, it joins many other organizations — such as schools, government offices, banks and some businesses — that are closed for the day, meaning the majority of American workers will have Thanksgiving Day off.

Many banks will be closed in observance of the holiday, though customers will still be able to access their online banking accounts and may be able to get customer service over the phone. Check out this list of major banks that will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and plan ahead so that any of your banking needs are handled before it's time to cook the turkey.

Banks Closed on Thanksgiving Day 2016

All the banks we contacted verified that they will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, meaning customers won't be able to fulfill any of their banking needs in person. Luckily, many transactions, deposits and other banking needs can be completed online easily and quickly.

Bank of America
Bank of the West
BBVA Compass Bank
BB&T
BMO Harris Bank
Capital One Bank
Chase Bank
Citibank
Citizens Bank
Comerica Bank
Fifth Third Bank
First Niagara Bank
HSBC Bank
Huntington Bank
Huntington State Bank
KeyBank
M&T Bank
People's United Bank
Regions Bank
PNC Bank
Santander Bank
SunTrust Bank
TD Bank
Union Bank
U.S. Bank
Wells Fargo

Banks Open on Thanksgiving

None of the banks contacted will have standalone branches open on Thanksgiving, though some branches inside grocery stores may still be open. It's always best to contact your bank before making a visit to the branch if it's on any sort of special holiday, especially Thanksgiving.

Although you may not be able to visit your bank's branches on Thanksgiving Day, banks return to their regular schedule the day after Thanksgiving, meaning customers don't have to wait too long before completing all their banking needs.

Now see the restaurants open on Thanksgiving:

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