This Monday marks Juneteenth National Independence Day, or Juneteenth, a federal holiday honoring the 158th anniversary of the last enslaved Black Americans learning that they were free.
While the Emancipation Proclamation that freed U.S. slaves was supposed to go into effect in January 1863, the Civil War lasted another two years, and slavery persisted in places under Confederate control. It wasn’t until federal troops marched on Galveston, Texas and took over the state on June 19, 1865 — more than two months after the Civl War ended — that the remaining 250,000 or so slaves in Texas were finally freed. So the date came to be known as Juneteenth — a portmanteau of June 19th.
Read more: What is Juneteenth and why is it a holiday?
President Joe Biden signed legislation naming Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021 — the first time that a new federal holiday had been approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. So 2023 is the second year that Juneteenth will be observed as a federal holiday. And this means that the U.S. stock markets and many federal offices and parks will be closed, as well as plenty of workplaces and schools. But some services will still be running.
So if you’re wondering if banks will be open on Juneteenth, or whether the post office is still delivering mail, then read on.
Is the stock market closed on Juneteenth?
Yes, U.S. stock markets — including the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and bond markets, will be closed in observance of Juneteenth on Monday, June 19.
Will banks be closed on Juneteenth?
Yes, you should expect banks to be closed on Juneteenth. Federal Reserve banks and their branches are observing the holiday on Monday, and most other banks follow the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule. For example, Bank of America
BAC,
and JP Morgan Chase & Co.
JPM,
have declared Juneteenth a holiday, so their branches are closed on Monday. But check with your local banking branch to be sure.
You can still use ATMs to withdraw or deposit cash, of course. And banking services like transferring money may also be available on your bank’s app or website.
Will the United States Postal Service deliver mail on Juneteenth?
No, post offices will be closed on June 19, and there will be no regular mail deliveries or packages.
Some postal services may be available online, however, such as ordering stamps and other mail supplies, printing shipping labels or scheduling package pickups for after the holiday. You’ll just need a USPS.com account.
Are UPS and FedEx open on Juneteenth?
Yes. UPS
UPS,
and FedEx
FDX,
are operating normally on Monday, June 19, and their FedEx Office and UPS Store brick-and-mortar locations will be open for business, as well.
Are schools open on Juneteenth?
Many U.S. schools are already in summer recess. But as far as summer classes or summer semesters go, schools tend to follow federal holiday schedules, so they are also probably closed. Check with your school district to be sure.
What else is closed on Juneteenth?
All non-essential federal offices will be closed on Monday, and federal courthouses will be closed, as well. DMV locations will depend on the state, however: While New York’s DMV offices will be closed, for example, Florida’s DMV offices will be open. In fact, state-run offices may be open on Juneteenth, so check your local listings.
What about stores and restaurants?
Most retail, chain and grocery stores should be running on Juneteenth. Some companies including Target
TGT,
Best Buy
BBY,
and Nike
NKE,
have declared Juneteenth a company holiday, for example, but their stores remain open.
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