Banking hours are the official operating hours during which a bank's physical branches are open for customers. Traditionally, banks operated Monday to Friday, roughly 9 AM to 3 PM — giving rise to the old phrase "banker's hours" to describe a cushy work schedule.
Modern banking hours have expanded significantly. In the US, most banks are now open 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and many offer Saturday hours. In India, public sector banks typically operate 10 AM to 4 PM, while private banks like HDFC and ICICI often extend hours to 5 or 6 PM.
Of course, digital banking has made banking hours almost irrelevant for most transactions. Mobile apps, internet banking, and ATMs operate 24/7. Physical banking hours now matter mainly for complex services like loan applications, locker access, and account-related documentation.