Are banks and the post office open on Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
Monday 9 October states and cities across the United States will celebrate Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Will banks and the post office be open?
Traditionally, the second Monday of October is celebrated as Columbus Day. This year the federal holiday falls on 9 October.
However, controversy around the explorer and the harms that came with his “discovery” of the Americas on his way to find a westerly route to India has prompted states to drop the holiday. As well, in more recent years, a growing population has opted to shift focus to Indigenous people, the primary victims of European colonisation.
In 2021, President Biden became the first president to release a proclamation marking the holiday as Indigenous People’s Day. During the statement released, he called upon the population to “honor America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today.” However, on the same day an additional proclamation to celebrate Columbus Day was also signed by the President, meaning that at the federal level, both celebrations are seen as legitimate.
What will be closed?
All federal offices will be closed as the date is one of eleven federal holidays, including the post office.
Additionally, Columbus Day and/or a holiday recognizing Native Americans is celebrated as a paid holiday in:
- Alabama
- American Samoa
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- US Virgin Islands
- Utah
- Vermont (can be used as a floating holiday by state employees)
- Virginia
- West Virginia
In these cases, all public state offices, with the exception of Vermont, will be closed with normal operations opening on Tuesday.
Banks and Businesses
Most banks do offer the date as a holiday to their employees. However, ATMs should be open. However, most supermarkets and retailers will remain open as they do not offer the holiday to their employees. Historically, banks have opted to follow a federal holiday schedule, although they may keep their doors open for many of them, as their operations are more closely linked to the government, and they rely more heavily on the Federal Reserve.
Which states have shifted from Colombus Day to Indigenous People’s Day?
Three states (Maine, New Mexico and Vermont) and the District of Columbia recognize the day exclusively as Indigenous People’s Day. Another three celebrate both Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day (Alabama, Nebraska and Rhode Island). Massachusetts is considering doing the same.
South Dakota was the first state to drop Columbus in favor of celebrating those who settled the lands in what are now the state before the pioneers arrived declaring the second Monday of October ‘Native Americans’ Day’ starting in 1990.