Christmas Eve 2025: Are Banks, USPS, UPS, and FedEx Open in the US? Full Details Inside

Table of Contents

Introduction

Christmas Eve 2025-Christmas Eve, observed on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, marks the final day of preparation before Christmas Day, one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States. As families finalize travel plans, gift exchanges, and holiday activities, many Americans also need to plan for essential services such as banks, postal services, UPS, FedEx, and government offices.

The key question each year is whether these services will be operational on Christmas Eve, and if so, whether they follow normal schedules or shortened hours. Understanding these schedules is particularly important for last-minute financial transactions, shipping urgent packages, or sending holiday greetings.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of all major services, their schedules on Christmas Eve 2025, and practical tips to navigate the holiday period smoothly.

1. Christmas Eve and Federal Holidays in 2025

1.1 Christmas Eve: Not a Standard Federal Holiday

While Christmas Day (December 25) is a designated federal holiday, Christmas Eve is not automatically recognized as a federal holiday for most U.S. workers and services. Traditionally, government offices and banks remain open on December 24, although many may operate with shortened hours.

In 2025, however, there has been a temporary federal holiday declaration for federal employees on Christmas Eve, along with December 26. This allows government employees a multi-day break, but it does not mandate closure for private banks, postal services, or shipping companies.

1.2 Practical Implication for Citizens

Federal employees enjoy a break on Dec. 24, which may affect services in federal offices.
Banks and private services are mostly open, with adjusted hours.
Planning ahead is crucial for financial transactions, mail, and shipments.

2. Banks on Christmas Eve 2025

2.1 Banks Will Be Open, Generally

Most U.S. bank branches, including major national banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Capital One, and PNC, will remain open on December 24, 2025.

While banks operate, it is important to note:

Many branches may close earlier than usual, often between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., depending on local practices.
Smaller community banks and credit unions may vary their hours individually.

2.2 Online and Mobile Banking

Even if branches close early, online banking, mobile banking, and ATMs continue to function normally. Customers can:

Transfer funds
Pay bills
Deposit checks using mobile apps

2.3 Regional Differences

Urban branches tend to maintain longer hours than suburban or rural branches.
It is recommended to check your branch’s holiday hours in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

3. United States Postal Service (USPS) on Christmas Eve

3.1 USPS Will Operate on December 24

Unlike Christmas Day, USPS operates on Christmas Eve:

Post offices will be open for retail services.
Mail delivery continues as per standard schedules.
Priority mail and express deliveries remain available.

3.2 Closure on Christmas Day

On December 25, USPS does not deliver mail, and retail services are closed. Mail services resume on December 26.

3.3 Practical Advice

For last-minute gift deliveries or urgent documents, plan earlier in the day.
Verify local branch hours to ensure timely pickup.

4. UPS Operations on Christmas Eve

4.1 UPS Will Be Open on December 24

UPS provides standard services on Christmas Eve:

UPS Ground delivery and pickup
UPS Express and air freight services
UPS Store retail locations

4.2 Adjusted Hours

Many UPS stores and drop-off locations close earlier than normal, typically in the afternoon.
Emergency services, such as UPS Express Critical, operate as usual.

4.3 Planning for Shipments

Schedule early drop-offs to ensure same-day processing.
Confirm cut-off times with local UPS locations for time-sensitive shipments.

5. FedEx Operations on Christmas Eve

5.1 FedEx Remains Open

FedEx continues operations on December 24 for most services:

FedEx Ground
FedEx Express
FedEx Home Delivery
FedEx Office retail locations

5.2 Early Closure

FedEx retail and drop-off locations may close earlier than usual.
Express and Priority shipments are still processed but may be affected by local staffing hours.

5.3 Tips for Customers

Confirm local branch hours for urgent shipping needs.
Schedule shipments in the morning to avoid delays.

6. Stock Market and Federal Offices

6.1 Stock Market

Major U.S. exchanges, such as the NYSE and NASDAQ, traditionally close early on Christmas Eve, often by mid-afternoon.
Regular trading resumes the next business day if it is not a holiday.

6.2 Federal Offices

In 2025, federal offices are closed on December 24 and December 26 due to the temporary holiday declaration.
Private offices may follow separate schedules, often remaining open.

7. Summary of What’s Open and Closed

Service	Status on Christmas Eve, Dec 24, 2025	Notes
Banks	Open, often early closure	Hours vary by branch
USPS	Open, mail delivered	Priority mail available
UPS	Open	Some locations close early
FedEx	Open	Some locations close early
Stock Market	Early close	Exchanges may close around 1 pm
Federal Offices	Closed	Temporary federal holiday

8. Practical Tips for Christmas Eve

8.1 Banking Tips

Complete transfers and withdrawals earlier in the day.
Use online or mobile banking if branches close early.

8.2 Mailing and Shipping

Ship packages as early as possible.
Check specific service deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx.

8.3 Planning Around Stock Market

If trading stocks or securities, plan early due to early market closure.

9. Importance of Planning Ahead

Christmas Eve sees high transaction volumes in banks and shipping services.
Early planning ensures smooth completion of last-minute tasks.
Understanding local branch hours avoids inconvenience.

Also Read: RBI Experts Recruitment Drive 2025: Apply Online for 93 Posts, Official Details Released

10. Conclusion

Christmas Eve 2025, December 24, is an active day for banks, USPS, UPS, and FedEx in the United States. Most services remain open but may close early, while Christmas Day is the official holiday for full closures.

For Americans and international customers relying on U.S. services, the key is to plan transactions and shipments early, utilize online and mobile services, and verify local hours. By doing so, citizens can enjoy the holiday with peace of mind, knowing that essential services are accounted for.