Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. If you’ve got a stack of bills to mail or a check that absolutely needs to be deposited in person, you’re probably staring at the calendar and wondering if you're too late. Honestly, Saturdays are always a bit of a gamble when it comes to "official" business hours.
The short answer? Yes, for the most part, banks and the post office are open today, but there are some big "ifs" and "buts" you need to know before you jump in the car.
Since we’re currently in the middle of a long weekend for some—with Martin Luther King Jr. Day coming up this Monday, January 19—things are starting to get a little wonky with schedules. Most people assume the holiday starts today. It doesn't. But that doesn't mean your local branch is operating like a normal Tuesday.
Are Banks and Post Office Open Today? Let’s Break It Down
When you're asking are banks and post office open today, you have to look at them as two totally different beasts. The United States Postal Service (USPS) follows a very rigid federal schedule, while banks are basically private businesses that just happen to like following federal holidays so they can take a nap.
The Post Office Situation
The USPS is definitely running today, Saturday, January 17. If you have mail in your box, the carrier will come by. If you need to buy stamps or ship a package, retail counters are generally open.
However, "open" is a relative term on a Saturday. Most post offices close their windows around noon or 1:00 PM. Some larger hubs in cities like Chicago or New York might stay open until 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM, but if you show up at 4:30 PM expecting to see a friendly face behind the plexiglass, you’re probably going to be disappointed.
- Mail Delivery: Active.
- Retail Counters: Open, but usually with shorter "half-day" hours.
- Lobby Access: Usually 24/7 for PO Box holders.
The Bank Situation
Banks are even more hit-or-miss. Because today is a Saturday, many smaller community banks and credit unions are closed entirely. Big national names like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo usually keep their main branches open on Saturdays, but they often pull the "10 AM to 1 PM" or "9 AM to 2 PM" shift.
It is also worth noting that since Monday is a federal holiday (MLK Day), any transaction you make today won't actually "clear" or start moving until Tuesday morning. If you deposit a check at a teller today, don't expect those funds to be fully available if you're counting on them for a Sunday brunch.
Why the MLK Day Weekend Changes Everything
The reason people get confused about whether are banks and post office open today is the shadow of Monday's holiday.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday. This means on Monday, January 19, 2026, the doors will be locked tight. No mail will move. No bank tellers will be counting cash.
But today, Saturday the 17th, is a "buffer day." The Federal Reserve is technically open for business (though they don't process most retail stuff on weekends anyway), and the USPS hasn't started their holiday break yet.
Think of today as the "last call" for government and financial errands. If you don't get it done by the time the doors lock this afternoon, you are stuck waiting until the world reopens on Tuesday, January 20.
Real-World Exceptions You Should Watch Out For
I’ve seen people get burned by this a hundred times. You drive all the way to the "big" bank branch only to find out they decided to close for the holiday weekend early.
- In-Store Branches: If your bank is located inside a grocery store (like a SunTrust/Truist inside a Publix or a generic bank inside a Kroger), they often keep much longer hours. These might stay open until 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM today even if the standalone branch down the street closed at noon.
- Contract Postal Units: Some gift shops or pharmacies have a "mini" post office inside. Their hours depend on the store, not the federal government.
- Digital Banking: This is the obvious one. Your app doesn't sleep. You can deposit a check via your phone at 11:59 PM tonight, and it will count as being "received" today, even if the processing doesn't happen until Tuesday.
What You Can Actually Do Right Now
If you're reading this and realizing the clock is ticking, here is your game plan.
First, check the specific branch. Don't trust the "Hours" listed on a random flyer from 2023. Use Google Maps for your specific zip code; they are usually pretty good at flagging "Holiday hours may differ."
Second, if you’re shipping something via USPS, get there before 11:00 AM to be safe. Even if they say they close at 1:00 PM, the "cutoff" time for mail to actually leave the facility on the truck is often earlier. If you miss that truck, your package is just sitting in a bin until Tuesday.
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Lastly, remember that UPS and FedEx are private companies. They often have different rules. While the USPS is a government-adjacent entity that shuts down for every federal holiday, FedEx and UPS might have "limited" service on Monday. But for today, Saturday, they are running their normal weekend schedules.
Practical Steps to Take
- Check the app first: See if your banking task can be handled via mobile deposit or Zelle.
- Use the Kiosk: Most post office lobbies have a Self-Service Kiosk (SSK) that lets you weigh packages and buy labels even after the counter is closed.
- Withdrawal limits: If you need a large amount of cash for the weekend, get to a teller before 1:00 PM today. ATMs have daily limits that might leave you stranded if you need more than $500 or $1,000.
- Verify Monday's plans: If you were planning on a "Monday morning" bank run, move it to Tuesday or do it right now.
The bottom line is that while are banks and post office open today is a "yes," it's a "yes with an expiration date." Don't wait until the afternoon to handle business that can't wait until next week. Get it done before lunch, or prepare to wait until the Tuesday morning rush.