holiday hours

Are Banks Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2015?

January 15, 2015 By Jeffrey Strain 5 Comments

Are banks open or closed on Martin Luther King Jr Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 19, 2015) is just around the corner, and it can get confusing whether or not banks and credit unions are open or closed on this day. That’s because even though Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday, the day off work only applies to only federal employees. Private businesses, such as credit unions and banks, decide for themselves whether or not to stay open or close on federal holidays.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on a Monday each year which makes for a bit more confusion. Mondays are a day banks and credit unions are typically open for business, unlike Sunday when most banks are closed. In most cases, the answer to the question, “Are banks open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?” is “No, they are closed.” Most banks have a holiday schedule which basically mirrors fedederal holidays, but there are some exceptions.

Are banks open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

No, most banks are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. While Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday and most banks close their doors for the day, not all do. TD Bank is one exception, and its branches stay open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Some banks located in other retail outlets, such as Walmart and grocery stores, may also remain open for the day.

Are credit unions open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

No, most credit unions are closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Much the same way as most banks will be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the same is true with most credit unions. Credit unions which might possibly be open would be located in a retail outlet like a grocery store or Walmart.

For those who find themselves in a position of needing to do a bank transaction on January 19, in many cases it may still be possible. It’s still possible to do many basic banking transactions, even when local branches are closed, through the bank’s mobile app, their website, or at their automatic teller machines (ATMs). These options are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, possibly making a visit to the bank unnecessary.

When you do use alternatives to going to a bank branch, remember the transactions may not go through as quickly as if you talked with a teller. The transactions may not begin to process until the next business day when the bank opens. This could prove to be important if you need money right away, but must wait for a check to clear.

Are Banks and Credit Unions Open Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend?

Most banks and credit unions are open Saturday, but will be closed Sunday on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend. If you bank branch is usually open on Saturdays, then it should be open for its regular Saturday hours on January 17. Most banks are closed on Sunday, but there are a few which remain open. Those which are the exception will be open, but most will be closed on Sunday, January 18.

(Photo courtesy of In Sappho We Trust)

What Stores Are Open and Closed on New Year’s Day 2016?

December 30, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 1 Comment

List of stores open and closed on New Year's Day

When the New Year rolls around, it can get confusing as to which stores are open or closed for the day. New Year’s Day is a federal holiday, but that doesn’t mean retail stores follow the lead of the federal government and close for the day. In fact, many stores take advantage of the holiday to have sales to drive those people with the day off into their retail establishment. Below you’ll find a list of stores, and whether they are open or closed on January 1, 2016.

Is Walmart open on New Year’s Day?

Yes, Walmart is open New Year’s Day. Walmart is open every day of the year except for one, and that day is Christmas. Walmart stores will be open.

Is Costco open on New Year’s Day?

No, Costco is closed New Year’s Day. Costco is one retailer that often closes it doors on holidays when most other retailers remain open to give their employees the day off. New Year’s Day is one of these days. If you are planning a New Year’s Day party, or need to stock up on food for watching football for the day, you will need to make sure to get it all before January 1. It’s also important to note Costco stores will be closing early on New Year’s Eve at 6:00 pm, rather than the usual 8:30 pm on weekdays.

Is Target open on New Year’s Day?

Yes, Target is open New Year’s Day. For those who need to take a trip down to their local Target store, you’ll be happy to know it will be open on New Year’s Day, allowing you to buy anything you might need to get on that day. Target is open most days of the year except for Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.

Is BJ’s open on New Year’s Day?

Yes, BJ’s is open New Year’s Day. BJ’s wholesale club will be open for New Year’s Day, but it will be open limited hours for the day. The wholesale club will be open from 11 am to 7 pm on New Year’s Day. It also closed earlier than usual on New Year’s Eve at 6 pm.

Is Sams Club open on New Year’s Day?

No, Sams Club is closed New Year’s Day. Sams Club is another retailer which remains closed on New Years Day. so you need to get your shopping done on the 31st if you want to shop there. Sams Club closes at 6:00 pm on New Year’s Eve.

Most other large retailers remain open for the New Year’s Day holiday, many of them promoting sales. Below is a list of some of the other retail outlets you can expect to find open on January 1. If you do decide to go to one of them, be sure to call to confirm their store hours for the day. Many will be running on holiday hours instead of their typical midweek hours.

JC Penny is open on New Year’s Day
Macy’s is open on New Year’s Day
Sears is open on New Year’s Day
Kmart is open on New Year’s Day
CVS is open on New Year’s Day
Walgreens is open on New Year’s Day
Rite Aid is open on New Year’s Day
Best Buy is open on New Year’s Day
Lowe’s is open on New Year’s Day
Home Depot is open on New Year’s Day

While most major retailers will be open on January 1, the same can’t be said of smaller boutique shops. Many of these smaller stores will be closed on January 1. If you need to go to any of these shops, you will want to call to confirm whether or not they will be open.

(Photo courtesy of DonkeyHotey)

What’s Open and Closed on Thanksgiving Day 2014

November 26, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 4 Comments

Thanksgiving Day used to be a day where consumers could pretty much assume everything would be closed for the day, but that’s no longer the case. While the vast majority of institutions will shut their doors to let families celebrate the holiday day together, there are more and more retail outlets opening their doors, and the idea of Thanksgiving being a holiday for everyone is beginning to show cracks. For those who are planning to be out and about on Thursday, November 27, 2014, below you’ll find what you can expect to be open and closed for Thanksgiving.

Retail Stores

Large retail stores may open or may be closed. There are a lot of retail stores open on Thanksgiving Day, although this will be for limited hours for most. On the other side, there are a group of retailers who continue to refuse to open for Thanksgiving. For those stores that do open, here is a list of their opening times.

For those who decide to take advantage of the deals available at stores which open on the holiday, don’t forget the most important rule to save money during sales — the price you pay for something on sale fails to be a good deal no matter how low the price if it’s something you would not normally purchase. When you purchase something because it has a good price and not because you need it, you are basically impulse buying on price, and that’s never a good thing.

Three Major Drug Store Chains

Drug stores are open. All three big drugstore chains (CVS, Rite-Aid and Walgreens) will open on Thanksgiving, but may have limited hours Local drugstores, independent drugstores and smaller chains will likely be closed. Contact them to confirm to be sure.

Gas Stations

Most gas stations should be open. While not all gas stations will be open, there should be enough in your area to fill up with gas if need be. Those along the highway should be open for travelers as well. The service departments of stations will be closed.

Major Chain Grocery Stores

Most major chain grocery store chains are open. Most major grocery chain grocery stores will be open for business on Thanksgiving Day (there are some exceptions like Trader Joe’s), but most will have limited hours. Smaller grocery stores and ethnic food grocery stores will likely be closed for the day. It’s best to contact to confirm opening hours before making a trip to one.

Chain and Independent Restaurants

Some restaurants will be open while others will be closed. Many national chain restaurants will be open while independently owned restaurants may have a special Thanksgiving Meal special. If you’re planning to go out to eat, it’s best to call to confirm whether or not they will be open and the hours.

US Stock Markets

The stock markets are closed. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ stock market will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Libraries

Public libraries are closed. Public libraries will shut their doors on Thanksgiving (and many of theme will be closed the day after Thanksgiving as well).

Schools

Schools are closed. Public and private schools will be closed for the day. Most schools will have the day after Thanksgiving off as well.

Garbage Services

Most garbage service will be rescheduled. Most people who usually have their garbage service pick-up on Thursday will have it rescheduled for another day. be sure to call your local garbage service to get the holiday schedule.

Federal Government Offices

Most government offices are closed. Thanksgiving Day is an official federal holiday, so all non-essential federal government offices will closed. There are some government services like air traffic control and law enforcement which are essential, and they will remain open.

State and Local Government Offices

State and Local government offices are closed. Most state and local government offices will be closed for Thanksgiving, but essential services such as police departments and fire departments will remain open.

Credit Unions and Banks

Banks are closed. Both credit unions and banks will be closed for Thanksgiving Day. Some banking services that don’t require a teller can be done at AMTs, through the bank’s app or on the bank’s website.

Post Offices

Post offices are closed. The US Postal Service (USPS) and all local post offices will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. There will be no home of business mail delivery.

(Photo courtesy of Ben+Sam)

Are Walmart, Target and Costco Open or Closed on Labor Day 2014?

August 29, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 3 Comments

While many people realize that banks and the post office are closed on federal holidays like Labor Day, there’s an assumption all retail outlets are open. In many cases, this is due to all the Labor Day sales advertising which makes it feel like any place that has something to sell is offering some type of deal for the holiday. It’s certainly true most major retailers are open over the entire holiday weekend offering all types of sales (so are grocery and drug stores), but there are exceptions to the rule. Below you can see whether or not Walmart, Target and Costco are open on September 1, 2014.

Is Walmart open on Labor Day?

Yes, Walmart is open.

If you find that you need to buy something last minute, it’s good to know your local Walmart will be open over the weekend and on Labor Day as well. Many Walmart stores have other businesses operating within their stores (for example, a local bank branch). These other businesses may or may not be open on September 1, even if Walmart is open. If you need to visit one of these businesses, it’s best to call to confirm whether they are open or closed for the holiday.

Is Target open on Labor Day?

Yes, Target is open.

Target is another retail chain of discount stores in the US which will be open on Labor Day, and will in fact have sales to highlight the event. Any shopping needs you may have over the weekend can be done on September 1 without any issues. Don’t forget the many ways you can save money at Target when you visit.

Is Costco open on Labor Day?

No, Costco is closed.

While most retail stores use Labor Day as an opportunity to drive traffic to their retail stores through sales, Costco is one of the few retailers which closes its doors to observe the holiday. Costco does give their employees more days off than many other retailers to observe federal holidays, and this is one of the six days during the year when they are closed. For those who are planning a get together or some type of celebration over the weekend, make sure to stock up on everything you need before Monday if you plan to shop at Costco.

For anyone who plans to shop at major discount retailers during holiday sales, it’s important to remember savings are only truly realized when you purchase something that you already planned to buy. Far too often consumers see something on sale, and because it’s a great price, they decide they should purchase it. When consumers purchase products and services they would not normally use simply because of the price, they aren’t saving money no matter how much of a discount they received. It’s important to stick to the list of products and services you need and planned to buy when shopping sales in order to get the greatest benefit from them.

Major Retail Stores that are Open and Closed on Memorial Day 2015

May 22, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 7 Comments

This article has been updated for 2015

There is an assumption that all stores are open on Memorial Day because of all the Memorial Day sales advertising. It’s true that the majority of retail outlets do remain open for this holiday, but not all of them. Below you’ll find a list of stores that are open and closed on Monday, May 25, 2015, for the observation of Memorial Day.

While there will be some opportunities to save money with all the sales that will be taking place, remember that this saving is only beneficial to you if you were already planning on buying what’s being offered. If you end up buying products that you wouldn’t normally have purchased just because of the sale, then it wasn’t a deal no matter how much of a discount you got.

If you do go shopping as part of your celebration of the day, consider putting together a care package for troops who are stationed overseas. They would appreciate the gesture, and it would be a wonderful gesture for the meaning of the holiday.

Walmart

Walmart is open. If you have any last minute shopping to do, your local Walmart will be open. Some Walmart locations also have other businesses within their store (a local bank branch is an example). These may or may not be open on May 25. It’s best to call them directly to confirm whether or not they are open.

Target

Target is open. Target stores across the US will be open on Memorial Day. Any shopping that you might need to do there can be done on May 25 without any issues. There are numerous ways to save money at Target.

Costco

Costco is closed. Costco is one of the few retail outlets that closes to observe Memorial Day. It’s one of only six days when they are closed. If you need to stock up on anything like food for your barbecue or drinks for the weekend, be sure to do it before Monday.

BJ’s Wholesale Club

BJ’s is open. All the wholesale clubs will be open, but not their regular Monday hours. They will be open from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm on Monday which are their normal Sunday hours.

Home Depot

Home Depot is open. For all those who want to begin on their summer outdoor projects, all their stores will be open on Memorial Day. There are plenty of ways to save money at Home Depot.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s is open. If you are planning any building projects around the house, Lowe’s will be open on May 25. They will operate on their normal Monday business hours.

Best Buy

Best Buy is open. For those in need of electronic gadgets, Best Buy will be open and have their Memorial Day sale last until the end of the month. They will be open their regular Monday hours on May 25.

Sears

Sears is open. For those who have a lot of home shopping to do, Sears will be having a Memorial Day sale. A representative said that, “Some stores may have special hours, so we recommend you check with each local store to verify their hours.”

Macy’s

Macy’s is open. Macy’s will be having a large Memorial Day sale, with discount coupons which can be stacked with discounted prices for spring clothes that need to be moved for summer collections. Macy’s clothes sales are often one of the best sales over the Memorial Day weekend.

You may also want to note that grocery stores will be open on May 25 while banks and post offices will be closed for the day.

(Photo courtesy of Ian Sane)

Major Retail Stores that are Open and Closed on Memorial Day 2017

May 22, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 7 Comments

This article has been updated for 2017

Walmart

Walmart is open. If you have any last minute shopping to do, your local Walmart will be open. Some Walmart locations also have other businesses within their store (a local bank branch is an example). These may or may not be open on May 29. It’s best to call them directly to confirm whether or not they are open.

Target

Target is open. Target stores across the US will be open on Memorial Day. Any shopping that you might need to do there can be done on May 29 without any issues. There are numerous ways to save money at Target.

Costco

BJ’s Wholesale Club

BJ’s is open. All the wholesale clubs will be open, but not their regular Monday hours. They will be open from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm on Monday which are their normal Sunday hours.

Home Depot

Home Depot is open. For all those who want to begin on their summer outdoor projects, all their stores will be open on Memorial Day. There are plenty of ways to save money at Home Depot.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s is open. If you are planning any building projects around the house, Lowe’s will be open on May 29. Lowe’s stores may be on special holiday hours (10:00 am to 6:00 pm) so call ahead. The Lowe’s customer service number is: 1 (800) 445-6937.

Best Buy

Best Buy is open. For those in need of electronic gadgets, Best Buy will be open and have their Memorial Day sale. Unlike past years, the 2017 Best Buy Memorial Day sale ends on Memorial Day. They will be open their regular Monday hours on May 29.

Sears

Sears is open. For those who have a lot of home shopping to do, will be open on May 29. Sears stores may have special closing hours, so we recommend you check with each local store to verify their hours. The Sears customer service number is: 1 (800) 349-4358.

Macy’s

You may also want to note that grocery stores will be open on May 29 while banks and post offices will be closed for the day.

(Photo courtesy of Ian Sane)