By Valencia Higuera, Contributor
For many people, New Year's Eve is all about partying and celebrating the beginning of a new year. However, you can't party without money, so you might need to make a trip to your bank to deposit your paycheck or withdraw some cash for a fun night out on the town.
But there are two important questions you need to ask before you head out: "Are banks open on New Year's Eve 2015? Or, are banks closed on New Year's Eve?"
Visiting a bank on Thursday, Dec. 31, will not be an issue if you're only using the ATM, but you could run into problems if you need to go inside a local branch and it turns out to be closed.
We will continue to update this list live on GOBankingRates as more organizations release their New Year's Eve hours.
Is New Year's Eve a Bank Holiday?
New Year's Day celebrations typically occur the night before on New Year's Eve. It's on this night that people head out and watch the ball drop with family or friends. But while New Year's Eve might feel like the actual holiday, it's not one of the federal bank holidays. And since it's not a bank holiday, many banks will be open on Dec. 31.
Bank holidays refer to days on which banks close to observe a public holiday. There are 10 standard Federal Reserve Bank holidays, including New Year's Day. When a public holiday occurs on a Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks and branches typically open the preceding Friday, according to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. When the holiday occurs on a Sunday, some banks close the following Monday to observe the holiday.
During these closures, customers cannot complete transactions inside the bank lobby or with a drive-thru teller. But, they can access the ATM to withdraw funds or deposit checks. And of course, bank customers can always use online and mobile banking to take care of their financial needs.
Bank of America and U.S. Bank: 17 Banks Open on New Year's Eve
Are banks open Dec. 31? Don't head to your bank without knowing whether a local branch is open. GOBankingRates has compiled a list of major banks that are expected to be open on New Year's Eve 2015.
Although most of these major banks are expected to remain open on New Year's Eve, always call your local branch to be sure. It's also possible that your local bank branch might have different hours on this holiday.
Santander Bank, M&T Bank and Wells Fargo New Year's Eve Hours
It's important to note that while New Year's Eve isn't a federal bank holiday and the above financial institutions will be open on New Year's Eve, some select branches might decide to close early. So before visiting your bank on New Year's Eve, check with your local branch to find out if your bank's hours will be different on this holiday.
Banks with confirmed early closings on New Year's Eve include:
Keep Reading: 5 Ways to Make a Better Plan for Your Money in 2016
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