Bank holiday today, 12 January: All public and private sector banks will be closed in West Bengal on Monday, 12 January to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of India's most inspiring spiritual leaders and thinkers.
According to the RBI bank holiday calendar, which is the basis of all bank holidays across the country, banks in West Bengal including SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank among others will be closed today. However, the January 12 bank holiday is a regional bank holiday, meaning that lenders across other places in the country will function as normal.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decides its bank holidays based on regional holidays and national holidays. On national holidays like Independence Day or Republic Day, banks are closed across the country.
However, only in-person work is affected on bank holidays. ATM cash withdrawal, UPI payments, online and mobile banking and other services are not suspended on bank holidays.
Swami Vivekananda birth anniversary
The nation will be observing the 164th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda today, 12 January.
Swami Vivekananda, the renowned philosopher, spiritual leader and one of the greatest youth leaders of India, has continued to influence the country even today. His teachings and ideals are still relevant, as Swami Vivekananda believed in encouraging the youth participating in the act of nation building.
His quote “Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached” continues to inspire generations to this day.
Remaining bank holidays in January
12 January – Banks in West Bengal will be closed in observance of Swami Vivekananda's birthday.
14 January – Banks will be closed in Gujarat, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam due to Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu.
15 January – Banks will be closed in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Sikkim due to Uttarayana Punyakala / Pongal / Maghe Sankranti / Makara Sankranti.
16 January – Banks in Tamil Nadu will be closed in observance of Thiruvalluvar Day.
17 January – Banks in Tamil Nadu will be closed due to Uzhavar Thirunal.
23 January – Banks will be closed in West Bengal, Odisha and Tripura due to the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose / Saraswati Puja (Shree Panchami) / Vir Surendrasai Jayanti / Basanta Panchami.
26 January – Banks will be closed across all states and Union Territories of India due to Republic Day.
The remaining six bank holidays fall on weekends — specifically, the second and fourth Saturdays and all four Sundays.
