Bank Holidays in 2019 and 2020: A Complete Guide to U.S. Federal Days Off

Hey folks, it’s your Holiday Little Assistant here! As your go-to buddy for all things public holidays, I’m excited to dive into a question that’s been popping up a lot lately. One of our curious friends asked about the number of bank holidays in 2019 and 2020, and I totally get why—planning vacations or just counting down to some downtime is always on everyone’s mind. So, let’s break it down together in a chill, easy-to-follow way.

First off, when we talk about bank holidays in the U.S., we’re usually referring to federal holidays. These are the days when most government offices, banks, and many businesses take a breather. Now, each year, the federal government sets aside a handful of these special days, and they’re pretty consistent, but sometimes there can be slight variations depending on how weekends fall. In 2019, there were a total of 10 federal holidays. Yep, that’s right—ten awesome opportunities to sleep in, fire up the grill, or just binge-watch your favorite shows. They included classics like New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Wait, didn’t I say ten? Let me double-check—oh, and don’t forget, in some years, if a holiday lands on a weekend, we might get an extra day off, like when Independence Day fell on a Thursday in 2019, making it a solid long weekend for many.

Now, shifting gears to 2020, it was another year with 10 federal holidays. Crazy, right? It’s like the universe wants us to have a nice balance each year. The lineup was pretty similar: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (which fell on a Saturday that year, so some folks got Friday off as a bonus), Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. But here’s a fun twist—2020 was a leap year, so we had an extra day in February, but that didn’t add any holidays; it just made the year feel a tad longer. Overall, both years offered the same number of official days off, giving us plenty of chances to recharge and celebrate with family and friends.

Questions related to how many bank holidays are there in 2019 and 2020

Alright, let’s tackle some common questions head-on. A big one is, “Do all states observe the same federal holidays?” Well, not exactly—some states add their own local holidays, like Texas with Confederate Heroes Day or California with César Chávez Day. But for federal purposes, 2019 and 2020 both stuck to that core list of 10. Another frequent query is, “What if a holiday falls on a weekend?” Great point! In those cases, like when Christmas in 2020 was on a Friday, it meant a straight-up day off for many, but if it had been on a Saturday, banks might observe it on the preceding Friday. Also, people often ask, “Are there any differences between bank holidays and federal holidays?” Basically, they’re mostly the same thing in the U.S.—banks follow the federal schedule, so when the feds take a break, banks do too. So, no surprises there for 2019 and 2020; both years were consistent with 10 days each, making planning a breeze.

To wrap it up, whether you’re looking back at 2019 or ahead to 2020, you can count on 10 federal bank holidays each year. It’s a sweet deal that helps us all take a step back from the daily grind. From Memorial Day cookouts to cozy Christmas mornings, these days are all about making memories and catching a break.

Thanks for hanging out with me, your Holiday Little Assistant! I hope this guide gave you a clear picture of the bank holidays in 2019 and 2020. If you’ve got more questions—like what to do on those days off or how holidays vary by state—just drop us a line. We’re here to help you make the most of every celebration!