Bank Timings in India - Lunch Timings & Working Hours

Banks are financial institutions that provide services, such as accepting deposits, providing loans, and facilitating financial transactions. Banks have set timings for their operations, which may vary depending on the location and type of bank.

Customers who wish to conduct business at the bank must be aware of the regular bank hours. Generally, banks are open from Monday to Friday and remain closed on weekends and national holidays. In India, banks are open from 9:30 am to 5 pm. This article discusses the general bank hours on weekdays and Saturdays, lunch hours, RBI bank hours, and NEFT and RTGS hours. Let's take a look. 

Indian Standard Bank Hours

In India, bank hours vary depending on the bank and the branch. A typical bank's opening and closing hours are 9:30 am and 5:30 pm, respectively. While some banking institutions are open twenty-four hours a day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, others are not. Customer service is only available for six hours, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Customers are advised to check the bank's business hours before visiting a branch in light of this. It must be remembered that banks may open at different times on weekends.

Major Banks Timings

The bank timings in India of a few major banks are given below in the table:

Bank Timing On Saturdays

In India, banks are generally closed on Saturdays, except for a few select branches that remain open on a half-day basis. The working hours of these branches may vary, but the timings are the same as the weekdays.

The banks are open on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of each month, provided that day is not a recognized holiday. Banks observe their off days on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Numerous banks keep Saturday hours the same as weekday hours.

Bank Lunch Time

During business hours, lunchtime normally happens between 1 pm and 3 pm. Bank personnel adhere to the same rules and take their break during this time. Banks are open as usual throughout lunchtime, though. Individuals are welcome to conduct all operations anytime during the bank's working hours. Bank employees eat their meals in batches so as not to interrupt business. 

Bank NEFT Timings

One of the most popular methods for transferring money is using NEFT. Only bank accounts set up to receive NEFT payments for both the sender and the beneficiary are eligible to conduct NEFT transactions. The timing and operation of NEFT transactions are completely within the purview of the RBI, and they decide the timings for NEFT transactions. Initially, RBI had fixed NEFT transfer times during which NEFT transactions could be processed. However, post-2019, RBI declared that no time constraints would apply to NEFT transfers. This indicates that NEFT payments can be carried out anytime, anywhere. This was carried out to encourage electronic trade and financial sector integration on a global scale.

Bank RTGS Timings

The Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system is a funds transfer system that allows individuals and organizations to transfer large amounts of money between bank accounts in real-time. The RTGS system operates on all working days except for second and fourth Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays.

The RTGS timings vary depending on the bank. However, according to the RBI directive on RTGS timings published in December 2020, the service is available each day of the week, 24 hours a day. 

It is important to note that the RTGS timings may differ from one bank to another, and checking the timings with your bank before initiating an RTGS transfer is advisable. You can also check the RTGS timings by visiting the bank's website or contacting the bank directly.

RBI Bank Timings

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India and is responsible for regulating and supervising the country's monetary policy. RBI has a network of branches across the country, and these branches have set timings for public dealings.

RBI branches are generally open from Monday to Friday, and they remain closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. The working hours of RBI branches may vary depending on the location, but generally, they are open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Bottom Line

This article has outlined the bank timings and working hours. However, it is advisable to check the timings of the bank you wish to visit beforehand, as the timings may differ from one bank to another. You can also check the timings by contacting the bank directly or by visiting the bank's website.