As India celebrates Christmas on Thursday, December 25, 2025, the nation's financial institutions will observe a full holiday. Both the banking system and the major stock exchanges will remain shut in observance of the festival marking the birth of Jesus Christ, a significant occasion for the Christian community in India and worldwide.
Nationwide Closure for Banks and Financial Markets
All physical bank branches across the country will be closed on December 25. This includes banks in major metropolitan cities and state capitals. The closure is mandated under the Negotiable Instruments Act and encompasses RTGS holidays as well. According to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) 2025 holiday calendar, cities from Agartala and Ahmedabad to Mumbai and New Delhi will see no banking operations from branch counters.
The equity markets will also take a break. Both premier stock exchanges—the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)—will not conduct any trading sessions on this day. This Christmas closure marks the last stock market holiday for the calendar year 2025, coming just days before the new year begins.
Digital Banking Services Remain Operational
While brick-and-mortar branches are shut, the central bank has ensured that essential digital financial services continue uninterrupted. Customers can rely on online and mobile banking platforms for a range of activities. Key services that will remain accessible include:
- Online and mobile banking for fund transfers, balance inquiries, and bill payments.
- NEFT and RTGS services, subject to their standard operational windows.
- ATM withdrawals and debit/credit card transactions.
- Online requests for services like cheque book issuance, demand drafts, and account-related queries.
This ensures that the holiday does not disrupt critical financial transactions for individuals and businesses.
Remaining Bank Holidays in December 2025
The Christmas holiday is not the only break in December 2025. As per the RBI schedule, four more official bank holidays are slated for the month. These include the mandatory weekly offs on the second Saturday and Sunday of the month, which are standard across the banking sector. The other holidays are typically regional in nature, observed in specific states under the Negotiable Instruments Act.
The seamless integration of mandatory holidays with digital service availability reflects the evolving nature of India's financial ecosystem, where physical closures no longer mean a complete halt to banking.
