Bank Timings

It has happened to the best of us that we've held our bank-related tasks for Saturday and upon paying a visit to the bank, have found it closed. Today, banking plays a crucial role in carrying out the mundane activities of a person’s day. A person must know the bank timings in India before planning their visit.

This blog will be your guide in providing information regarding all the bank timings in India, the NEFT timings in Indian banks, the bank lunch timing, and the bank RTGS timings in India.

Standard Bank Timings in India

The bank timings in India are based on the bank and its branch. A typical bank open timing is 9:30 am, and a bank closed time is 5:30 pm. While some banks are open from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, twelve hours a day, some are not. Only six hours are available for customer service, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In light of this, it is advised that customers research the bank’s operating hours before going to a branch. It must be kept in mind that during weekends, banks may operate at various times.

Major Banks Timings

The bank timings in India of a few major banks is given below in the table:

Name of the Bank	Weekdays (Monday to Friday)	Saturdays (1st, 3rd and 5th of the Month)
State Bank of India	9.00 AM – 3.30 PM	9.00 AM – 3.30 PM
HDFC Bank	9:30 AM – 3:30 PM	9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
ICICI Bank	10:00 AM – 2:00 PM	10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
RBL Bank	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM	10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Bank of Baroda	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
IDBI Bank	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
YES Bank	9:30 AM – 4:30 PM	9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Punjab National Bank	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Allahabad Bank	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
HSBC Bank	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Note: The bank timings may vary from branch to branch.

Bank Lunch Timings

During lunchtime, banks are open for business as usual. Customers are welcome to conduct all business at any time during the bank’s operating hours. To avoid disrupting operations, bank staff eat their lunch in batches. The typical bank lunch timing is between 1:00 and 3:00 PM.

RBI Bank Timings

The Reserve Bank of India or the RBI only works on weekdays. The bank’s timing in India is:

• The working hours of RBI are 9:30 AM to 5:15 PM
• The banking hours of RBI are 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

Although bank employees are available during working hours, customers can visit the bank during banking hours only. The bank conducts internal affairs during the other hours.

Bank NEFT Timings

The Reserve Bank of India or the RBI determines the NEFT operating hours. Customers now have access to NEFT on a 24/7 basis as of December 16, 2019. Every day of the year, including holidays, the system will be accessible. 

A countrywide payment system called NEFT makes direct money transfers possible. Banks that are a part of this programme allow people to transfer money from one account to another. There are no fixed bank NEFT timings in India since it is available 24×7 and 365 days.

Bank RTGS Timings

Funds are transmitted in real-time under RTGS or Real Time Gross Settlement. This indicates that the money is moved as soon as the instructions are received. According to the Reserve Bank of India, customers can transfer money through RTGS 24×7. There are no fixed bank RTGS timings in India.

Bank Timing on Saturdays

The hours of operation at a bank are determined by a variety of variables, including the general policies established by the bank, its branches, their locations, their clientele, the services they provide, the regulations established by the RBI, the laws of the state and the Federal Government, etc. Even while a bank typically has the same hours at all its locations, there are frequently exceptions, usually because of one of the abovementioned factors.

As long as it’s not a gazetted holiday, the banks are open on the month’s first, third, and fifth Saturdays. The banks observe their days off on the second and fourth Saturdays of a month. A great number of banks follow the same weekday hours on Saturday as well. 

Additionally, most banks adhere to the same business hours to maintain consistency across the chart. However, there can easily be a plus or minus of timing dissimilarity in the business hours of other banks. 

The bank Timings of a few major banks on Saturdays are:

Name of the Bank	Bank Timings
State Bank of India	9.00 AM – 3.30 PM
Bank of Baroda	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Bank of India	10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Punjab National Bank	10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Canara Bank	10:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
ICICI Bank	10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
HDFC Bank	9:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Axis Bank	9:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
Yes Bank	9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Kotak Mahindra Bank	9:30  A.M. – 4:30 P.M

Note: The bank timings may differ from branch to branch

Bank Timings Post COVID-19 Lockdown

Due to the nationwide lockdown related to the Coronavirus in India, some public and private sector banks have changed their bank timings, reduced staff numbers and suspended non-essential activities. However, the bank timings in India returned to their regular opening hours in August.

Also, all initial suspension of in-person banking services has been lifted. Banking institutions have taken prudent security measures for staff and customers to maintain all Covid-related safety measures. The primary ones are listed below. 

• Customers must wear a face mask when they are in the bank. 
• Banks are equipped with numerous disinfectants, and customers are advised to wash their hands thoroughly before entering and leaving the bank. 
• All guests will be temperature checked by security personnel. 
• Customers are encouraged and required to maintain a distance

Related Resource

HDFC Bank Timings and Working Hours

ICICI Bank Timings and Working Hours

Canara Bank Timings and Working Hours

Axis Bank Timings and Working Hours

What banking services are not available on bank off-days and holidays?

Various services are unavailable to customers when banks have off-days and holidays. These services include the following:

• NEFT or National Electronic Funds Transfer
• RTGS or Real Time Gross Settlement
• Any physical banking service, such as changing your passbook, acquiring foreign currency from the bank, putting money in or taking money out of a safe, going to your bank locker, etc.

Are Banking Services Available Even on Bank Off-days and Holidays?

The following banking services are accessible even on their closed days or holidays:

• Immediate Payment Services (IMPS)
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
• Access to mobile banking and internet banking
• Service of ATMs
• Cheque-drop boxes at ATMs and other cheque-drop locations

 

Now, that you are aware of the bank timing in India. Plan your bank-related to-do list accordingly.