Presidents Day is observed on the third Monday in February under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, which moved several federal holidays to Mondays to create long weekends for some American workers.
Most Americans now refer to this holiday as Presidents Day, but Congress officially recognizes the day as Washington’s Birthday. Schools, some businesses, and government offices are closed.
Presidents Day is not associated with cultural celebrations such as fireworks shows or parades, but it is known for mattress and home goods sales.
January and February are historically slow for retailers, following the post-Christmas holiday shopping frenzy, so retailers use promotions as a way to increase store traffic.
While Presidents Day is a federal holiday, there aren’t many barbeques or parades in honor of the late presidents.
In California, in mountain towns across the country, and in Northern Nevada, where I live, the long Presidents Day weekend is a busy time for ski resorts, which is one reason season pass holders are often blocked from using their passes on the holiday.
Major retailers such as Target and Walmart, along with movie theaters and grocery stores, are open on the Monday holiday.
Banks, however, are closed.
The Presidents Day holiday honors the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Banks are closed on Presidents Day
The concept of “bankers’ hours” has a long history dating back to the 19th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, when it was used disparagingly to call out bankers’ short workdays (banks were often open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and frequent holidays.
Back then, most payments for goods and services were made in cash, and since businesses weren’t open in the evening or on weekends, the shorter days for banks made sense.
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Today, a typical workday is 8 or 9 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m., and most banks now keep their doors open during those same hours, including Saturdays.
Banks are typically closed for all 11 federal holidays, according to the Federal Reserve’s Official Federal Holiday Calendar.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Indigenous People’s Day (Columbus Day)
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Some banks will also close or reduce hours of operation on days such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and close on the day after Thanksgiving.
The history of Presidents Day
Some states still refer to the February holiday as Washington’s Birthday, since it was originally a celebration of the first American president, whose birthday was February 22. The celebration evolved to include Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday was February 12.
Congress has never officially changed the name, according to the National Archives; it was retailers who unofficially dubbed the holiday Presidents Day, and it stuck.
What else is closed on Presidents Day?
In addition to banks, the following are typically closed:
- Public schools
- U.S. Post Office branches
- Local government offices
- State government offices
- Federal government offices
- Many non-retail businesses, which opt to give workers the day off
What is open on Presidents Day?
Most retailers, including Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Kroger, remain open on Monday. Most restaurant chains — including McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and Chick-fil-A — also operate regular hours.
National parks offer free admission on Presidents Day, and so do some state park systems, including Florida’s State Parks.