Financial institutions across Nigeria have announced the closure of their physical branches in observance of the upcoming Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, directing customers to digital channels for their banking needs.
Branch Closures Align with Federal Government Holidays
Banks and other financial service providers will shut their doors on Thursday, 25 December, and Friday, 26 December 2025, following the Federal Government's declaration of these days as public holidays. This also includes New Year's Day on Thursday, 1 January 2026.
Most institutions will operate reduced hours on Wednesday, 24 December 2025, before the full closure. Normal operations at physical locations are scheduled to resume on Monday, 29 December 2025.
Banks Outline Specific Holiday Schedules
Several leading banks have communicated detailed plans to their customers. Stanbic IBTC Bank confirmed its branches will be closed for the entire two-day holiday period but assured clients of 24/7 access through its digital platforms.
FirstBank Nigeria informed customers that its branches will close early at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, 24 December 2025. The bank stated that a similar early closure will be implemented on Wednesday, 31 December 2025, ahead of the New Year celebration. Customers are encouraged to utilize the bank's mobile applications, USSD codes, ATMs, and online banking portals.
Capital Market and Pension Firms Follow Suit
The holiday shutdown extends beyond commercial banks to other key players in the financial sector. Coronation Registrars announced its offices will be closed to physical visits on 25 and 26 December, reopening on 29 December. However, its contact centre will remain accessible for limited hours.
Cowry Assets Management Limited will close its offices early by 2:00 pm on 24 December and remain shut on Christmas and Boxing Day. Similarly, Leadway Pensure announced an early closure at 2:00 pm on 24 December, followed by a full shutdown.
Leadway Pensure emphasized that services would remain available through its digital interfaces, including an instant service assistant, online portal, chatbot, and mobile app.
Industry-Wide Push for Digital Adoption
The coordinated announcements highlight a strong industry push towards digital financial services during the festive season. Institutions are uniformly advising customers to rely on electronic channels to conduct transactions, check balances, and access customer support without interruption.
The recommended channels include:
- Mobile banking applications
- USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) codes
- Automated Teller Machines (ATMs)
- Online banking platforms
- AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants
This move underscores the continued expansion and reliability of Nigeria's digital banking infrastructure, ensuring that financial activities can proceed seamlessly despite the physical closure of branches.
