Banks: Why Bank Transfers Are Blocked During Christmas, Key Dates, and What You Can Do

From December 25 to 28, 2025, SEPA bank transfers will be temporarily suspended due to the European payment system shutdown. However, instant transfers and Wero will continue to operate without interruption during this period.

SEPA bank transfers will be unavailable from December 25 to December 28, 2025. This outage affects all individuals and businesses relying on the traditional transfer system across Europe. Whether you're reimbursing a loved one for holiday shopping, giving Christmas bonuses, or paying wages, you'll need to plan ahead, as any payments scheduled during this period won’t be processed until December 29.

This payment system closure is due to the suspension of settlement platforms operated by the European Central Bank (ECB). As is the case every year, these systems are shut down during weekends and certain public holidays, including December 25 and 26 for Christmas, as well as January 1, 2026, for New Year’s Day. If you plan to make a transfer during these dates, you can instruct your bank to do so, but the transaction will only be completed and credited to the recipient’s account when the system reopens on December 29.

Which bank transfers are affected by this restriction?

Only standard SEPA transfers (Single Euro Payments Area) are affected by this closure. These are the usual bank-to-bank transfers processed through the European payment system. "This schedule is communicated well in advance, thanks notably to updates from the ECB and, in France, from the French Banking Organization and Standardization Committee (CFONB)," explains the French Banking Federation (FBF). For 2025, the schedule was published as early as September 2024 and has been communicated to business clients by banks, allowing companies to plan ahead for salary payments and bill settlements.

This news is especially relevant for employers who need to pay year-end salaries or for those planning to settle urgent bills during the holiday season. It's better to get everything in order early and complete these transactions before December 24th to avoid any last-minute stress.

What solutions are effective during Christmas?

Good news: not all transfers are on hold during this period. Instant transfers continue to operate normally, even when the SEPA system is down. These transfers, which allow money to be sent in just seconds, remain available 24/7, including on public holidays. The same applies to Wero, the European payment service that enables real-time transfers between individuals.

Internal transfers, meaning those made between two accounts within the same bank, continue to operate seamlessly. If you and your recipient both bank with the same provider, you’ll be able to carry out your transfers without any hassle throughout the Christmas period. A smart reason to double-check which bank your loved ones are with before planning your repayments!

What are the other closure dates scheduled for 2026?

Planning ahead for next year? Mark these dates in your calendar now. In 2026, the SEPA payment system will be offline from Friday, April 3rd through Monday, April 6th for Easter weekend. Additionally, it will be unavailable on Friday, May 1st for Labor Day, and on Friday, December 25th for Christmas. Otherwise, the system will continue to operate normally on other public holidays throughout the year.

In short, to avoid any hassles during the holiday season, consider scheduling your bank transfers in advance or choose instant payment options. Your great-aunt will surely thank you when you reimburse her for the Christmas Eve groceries before Christmas instead of after!

For details on the operating hours of payment systems, visit the Bank of France or the European Central Bank.