There are usually about eight bank holidays a year to celebrate important times such as Christmas and Easter, and the summer bank holiday is coming up soon.
The next bank holiday that Brits can look forward to is on August 26 and then there will not be another until Christmas Day.
The bank holidays can be on different days or dates every year, particularly when a holiday such as Christmas falls on a weekend.
Why do banks usually close on bank holidays?
The days became known as bank holidays because it was originally just banks and financial institutions that closed on these dates. Over the years businesses, shops, schools and the government all joined in.
Bank holidays were introduced by banker, MP and scientific writer Sir John Lubbock, later the first Lord Avebury, who drafted what became the Bank Holiday Act in 1871.
Lubbock added Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and Boxing Day to the two common law holidays that already existed, Good Friday and Christmas Day.
A briefing paper from the House of Commons Library on bank and public holidays explains: “The Bank Holidays Act 1871 sought to address the fact that, while most employers were able to give their workers the day off on “public” holidays, it was difficult for banks to do so because the holders of bills of exchange had the power to require payment on those days.”
Are any bank branches open this bank holiday?
The next bank holiday is Monday August 26. Here is a list of banks and whether they are open. August 26 is not a bank holiday in Scotland so banks will open as normal.
Barclays
Barclays branches are closed on all bank holidays, so you won’t be able to use your local high street Barclays.
Opening times outside of these dates will be normal. You can check what time your nearest bank branch is open using the branch locator tool on the Barclays website.
You can usually bank online on any day or hour even if branches are closed. If you need to get in touch with the bank when it is closed, you can use the online chat function on your app or call the bank on 0345 734 5345.
Customer services may be operating reduced hours over the long weekend.
Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland
Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds Bank, will be closing its branches on August 26, except in Scotland where the August bank holiday was on Monday August 5.
Again, there may be reduced customer support availability if you need to speak to someone.
Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide branches will be closed on August 26 throughout the UK.
You can find out what time your nearest branch will open by using the Nationwide branch locator tool.
If you have an urgent inquiry when branches are closed, you can contact Nationwide Building Society by calling 0345 730 2011.
You can also send the bank a message on its website.
Santander
Santander is closing all its branches on August 26.
Use the branch locator tool on its website to check when your nearest branch will be back open.
Santander has a call centre, which you can reach on 0800 912 3123 – it is open seven days a week from 8am to 6pm, but this may change over the bank holiday period.
You can also contact the bank through its online chat function.
HSBC
HSBC branches will be closed on August 26.
Find your local bank branch by using the branch finder tool on the HSBC website.
Contact centres are usually open 8am to 8pm every day and customers can find the telephone number on the back of their card.
How to check if your bank branch is open – on any day
For the upcoming bank holiday, our guide has you covered in terms of opening times for the UK’s major banks.
Whether it’s a bank holiday or not, most banks have their own branch finder, which will list the opening times of a particular location.
