May Day 2026: Bank Closures & Service Updates in Venezuela & Guatemala

Venezuelan banks will be closed on Friday, May 1st, 2026, in observance of International Workers’ Day, according to a statement from the National Superintendency of Banking Sector Institutions (Sudeban).

The closure applies to all bank branches nationwide, impacting in-person services. Sudeban encourages customers to utilize digital banking channels and ATMs for transactions during the holiday.

“Citizens can make payments, transfers, deposits and balance inquiries online from their homes, through personal computers and mobile applications on their cell phones,” Sudeban stated, as reported by Bitfinance.news.

The agency advises customers to complete any necessary cash withdrawals or payments in advance to avoid disruptions caused by the bank holiday.

2026 Banking Holidays in Venezuela

May 1st is one of several scheduled banking holidays in Venezuela for 2026. According to a calendar published by Sudeban and reported by El Diario, additional banking holidays include:

• January 6th (Día de Reyes – Three Kings Day, observed on January 12th)
• January 14th (Día de la Divina Pastora, observed on January 19th)
• March 19th (Día de San José)
• May 14th (Ascension of the Lord, observed on May 18th)
• June 4th (Corpus Christi, observed on June 8th)
• June 29th (Día de San Pedro y San Pablo)
• October 26th (Día de San José Gregorio Hernández)
• November 18th (Día de la Virgen del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, observed on November 23rd)
• December 8th (Día de la Inmaculada Concepción, observed on December 14th)

Several national holidays that fall on weekends will not be observed as banking holidays, including Carnival (February 16th and 17th), Easter (April 2nd and 3rd), and All Saints’ Day (November 1st).

Lunes Bancarios (Bank Mondays)

Sudeban’s calendar also includes “Lunes Bancarios” – bank Mondays – which occur when a national holiday falls mid-week. These Mondays are designated as working days for banks to facilitate transactions and maintain technological platforms. The practice also aims to encourage domestic tourism by creating extended weekends.

The purpose of these bank holidays, as outlined in Article 184 of the Organic Labor Law, is to designate non-working days while maintaining banking operations throughout the year, according to El Diario.

While Guatemalan banks will also observe a holiday on May 1st, suspending operations, the situation in Venezuela specifically focuses on the closure of bank branches and the promotion of digital banking alternatives during the International Workers’ Day holiday, as detailed by Sudeban.

Customers are encouraged to proactively manage their banking needs through online and ATM services to minimize any inconvenience during the holiday period.