31 October Bank Holiday: Are Banks Open Today, Saturday?

Walk into an SBI branch in Ahmedabad this morning and you will find the shutters down. Walk into the same bank in Mumbai, Bhopal or New Delhi, and it is a normal working day.

Both are correct. Saturday, 31 October, is a bank holiday today in only one state, and the reason comes down to a simple RBI Saturday rule that confuses a lot of people every month.

Quick answer

• Banks are open today across most of India, because 31 October is the fifth Saturday of the month, and only the second and fourth Saturdays are bank holidays.
• Banks in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, are closed today for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birthday.
• Online banking, UPI and ATMs keep working everywhere, even where branches are shut.
• The next closures are on November 2 in Shillong, then November 9 and 10 in several states for Diwali.

This is general information to help you plan, not financial advice. Always confirm with your own bank's website or branch before a visit.

Are banks open today, 31 October?

Yes, bank branches are open today in almost every part of India, because the fifth Saturday is a regular working day under RBI rules.

Under the Reserve Bank of India's holiday rules, all scheduled and non-scheduled banks are closed on the second and fourth Saturdays, while other Saturdays are working days unless a state holiday has been declared (Mint).

So the question "is today a bank holiday?" depends on which Saturday it is. The first, third and fifth Saturdays are usually working days, as The Economic Times explains.

According to the RBI holiday calendar, banks are working normally today in cities such as:

• Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai
• New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jammu
• Bhopal, Jaipur and Lucknow
• Kolkata, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram

SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank and Axis Bank are all keeping branches open, except in Gujarat.

Why are banks closed in Gujarat today?

Banks in Gujarat are closed because the state has declared 31 October a bank holiday to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Gujarat government notified it under Notification No. GS/22/2025/JSR/2025/509/GH, dated 27 November 2025, in consultation with RBI Ahmedabad (Mint). It covers both public-sector and private-sector branches across the state.

Patel was India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. He began as a criminal lawyer in Ahmedabad, joined the Gujarat Sabha in 1915 and was elected to the Ahmedabad Municipality in 1917, becoming its president in 1924 (Mint).

State holidays only apply in the state that notifies them. A Gujarat holiday does nothing to a branch in Indore or Pune.

How many bank holidays were there in October?

October had 11 bank holidays, not counting regular Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays, and they were spread across different states.

That figure comes from the RBI's state-wise holiday calendar, reported by Mint. The occasions included Gandhi Jayanti, Mahalaya Amavasya, Durga Puja and Dussehra, Laxmi Puja, Karva Chauth and today's Sardar Patel birthday.

November brings festival closures on 9 separate dates in different states, according to the RBI calendar cited by The Economic Times.

11 bank holidays in October compared with 9 festival closure dates in November, excluding Sundays and second and fourth Saturdays

Source: RBI calendar via Mint and The Economic Times

What most guides miss: a holiday count tells you very little on its own. Of October's 11 holidays, today's is the only one in Gujarat, so a person in Ahmedabad and a person in Kolkata can live through very different months. Always read your own city's row in the RBI calendar, not the national total.

What can you still do when your branch is closed?

You can still do most banking from home, because online banking, mobile apps, UPI and ATMs keep running on bank holidays.

Unless your bank has told you about a technical issue, digital services work as usual, and ATMs stay operational round the clock (Mint). Here is what still works in Gujarat today:

• Withdraw cash from any ATM.
• Pay shops and people through UPI or your bank's app.
• Pay bills and move money through internet banking.
• Manage your account, set up standing instructions or request a chequebook online.

What does not work is anything that needs a branch counter, such as depositing a cheque in person, collecting a demand draft or opening a locker. Plan those for Monday.

When are the next bank holidays in November?

The next bank holiday is on November 2 in Shillong, followed by Diwali closures on November 9 and 10 in several states.

Here are the November dates from the RBI calendar, as listed by The Economic Times and Business Standard:

On top of these, the second and fourth Saturdays and all Sundays are holidays everywhere. If you live in Madhya Pradesh, for example, mark November 9 and November 24 before you plan a branch visit around Diwali.

FAQs

Is today, 31 October, a bank holiday?

Only in Gujarat. Everywhere else, banks are open because it is the fifth Saturday of the month, which is a working day.

Which Saturdays are bank holidays in India?

The second and fourth Saturdays of every month. The first, third and fifth Saturdays are working days unless a state holiday falls on them.

Do ATMs and UPI work on a bank holiday?

Yes. ATMs, UPI, mobile banking and internet banking keep working unless your bank announces a technical issue.

When is the next bank holiday after today?

November 2 in Shillong, for the Nongkrem Dance. The bigger Diwali closures come on November 9 and 10 in several states.

Expert review: pending.

This article is for education only and is not investment, tax or legal advice. Holiday lists can change; check your bank's official website for the latest details.

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• ₹50 Lakh LRS Sub-Limit: What RBI's Proposal Means for You
• ₹100 a Day: What Your Bank Owes You When a UPI Payment Fails
• Rupee Up 93 Paise on RBI's 20% Rule: What It Means for US Stocks

Sources

• Mint: Bank holiday today 31 Oct 2026: Are banks open today?
• Mint: Gujarat bank holiday 31 Oct 2026 Saturday
• The Economic Times: Saturday bank holiday: Are banks open or closed today on October 31, 2026?
• The Economic Times: Bank holidays in November 2026
• Business Standard: Bank holidays in November 2026