Mexico Bank Holidays in December 2026 and January 2027

Mexican bank branches close on Saturday, December 12 (Virgin of Guadalupe) and Friday, December 25 (Christmas) in 2026, under the 2026 calendar of the bank regulator CNBV. January 1, 2027 is a legal rest day, but the 2027 bank list is not out yet. SPEI transfers, ATMs and card payments work on all of these days.

Which days are banks closed in December 2026 and January 2027?

Banks close on December 12 and December 25, 2026, and on every Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Banking and Securities Commission (Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, CNBV). Its rules for 2026, published in the official gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación) on December 10, 2025, list 11 closure dates for the year, and the last two fall in December. The same rules cover brokerages, investment funds, credit unions, savings cooperatives and licensed fintech companies, as of November 2026.

The CNBV posts the current list on its official bank holiday calendar page. The 2026 rules came out on December 10 of the previous year, so expect the 2027 calendar in December. A bank can still open selected branches on a closure day if it notifies the CNBV first. Our list of Mexico’s public holidays explains which of these dates are paid rest days for workers.

Do SPEI transfers work on bank holidays?

Yes. SPEI, the Bank of Mexico’s interbank payment system, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so a transfer sent from a banking app on December 25 normally arrives within seconds. What stops on a closure day is the branch: tellers, cash deposits at the counter, cashier’s checks and in-person account services.

Each bank still sets its own app limits and fraud checks, and a large or unusual payment can be held for review until staff are back. For rent, a deposit or any payment someone might dispute, download the electronic payment receipt (Comprobante Electrónico de Pago, CEP) from the Bank of Mexico’s MI SPEI page. Our guide to sending money to Mexico covers CLABE numbers, transfers from abroad and fees.

Will ATMs and card payments work over the holidays?

ATMs, card terminals and online banking keep running on bank holidays; the CNBV has said that cash machines operate normally on closure days. The practical problems are cash and timing:

• Get cash before December 24 if you pay a market stall, a building porter, year-end tips or a household worker in cash.
• Use ATMs inside a branch lobby or a shopping center during the day, and cover the keypad.
• Check your daily withdrawal limit, which is set by your bank and card. Foreign cards add their own fees and exchange margin.
• Deposits at bank agents (corresponsales) such as convenience stores and supermarkets follow the store’s hours; ask your bank how quickly those deposits post.

Card contracts usually move a payment due date that falls on a bank holiday to the next banking day. Read the due date on your statement and your card’s terms rather than assume.

When are SAT and government offices closed?

As of November 11, 2026, the Tax Administration Service (SAT) had not published its December 2026 vacation period. In the previous year, SAT’s second general vacation ran from December 18, 2025 to January 2, 2026, and several federal agencies, including the Ministry of Economy and the education ministry (SEP), declared December 22, 2025 to January 6, 2026 non-working days for paperwork. The National Migration Institute (INM) and city offices publish their own calendars, so book appointments before mid-December.

Vacation days do not pause tax payments. Under Article 12 of the Federal Tax Code (Código Fiscal de la Federación), days when the tax authorities are on general vacation do not count toward most deadlines, but they do count for filing returns and paying taxes. A monthly provisional payment due on Thursday, December 17, 2026 is due that day even if SAT offices are shut. When a deadline lands on a non-working day, it moves to the next working day: the payment due on the 17th of January falls on a Sunday in 2027, which moves it to Monday, January 18.

Freelancers in the simplified regime can check their monthly dates in our page on RESICO. This is a general explanation, not tax advice; SAT or a licensed accountant (contador) decides individual cases.

When do payroll and the aguinaldo arrive?

The year-end bonus must be paid before December 20 under Article 87 of the Federal Labor Law, and December 20, 2026 is a Sunday. Expect it in the working days before that weekend. The same law says wages are paid on a working day agreed between worker and employer, and the usual December paydays fall on banking days in 2026: Tuesday, December 15, and Thursday, December 31. The first January quincena falls on Friday, January 15, 2027.

If you employ a housekeeper, nanny or driver, send the bonus by Friday, December 18 and keep the SPEI receipt or a signed receipt. Our guide to the aguinaldo, Mexico’s Christmas bonus, explains how to calculate it and how much is tax-free.

Bottom line

Finish anything that needs a teller by Wednesday, December 23, since branch hours on December 24 and 31 vary by bank. Pay monthly taxes on their normal dates whatever SAT’s vacation notice says, and check the CNBV page in December for the 2027 list before planning a branch visit in early January.

FAQ

Are banks open on December 24 and December 31 in Mexico?

Neither date is on the CNBV’s 2026 closure list, so banks can open. Branch hours on those days are set by each bank, so check your branch before you go.

Is December 12 a bank holiday in Mexico?

Yes. The CNBV’s 2026 rules list December 12, the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, as a closure day. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday, when branches are closed anyway.

Can I send a SPEI transfer on Christmas Day?

Yes. SPEI runs every day of the year, including bank holidays, and transfers between Mexican accounts usually arrive in seconds. Your bank’s own limits and security checks still apply.

Are banks open on January 6, Día de Reyes?

January 6 was not on the CNBV’s 2026 list, and it is not a legal rest day. The 2027 list will confirm it when the CNBV publishes it in December.