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Veterans Day 2016: Are Banks Open Today? Find A Full List Of What’s Open, What’s Closed, And Where To Find Great Deals On November 11

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 00:44 PST, Nov 11, 2016

Veterans Day 2016 is here, and anyone wondering if banks are open or trying to look for a full list of what’s open and what’s closed on November 11 can find all the information right here.

Veterans Day can be one of the more confusing holidays for people trying to plan errands. While it is a federal holiday, which means government offices are closed, it’s also an important day for retailers leading into the holiday shopping season — and a popular day for restaurants and other stores to offer freebies for veterans.

What’s left can be a sometimes confusing situation with uncertainty over what stays open and what closes down on November 11. The answers can be found below.

What’s closed on Veterans Day 2016

Because Veterans Day is a federal holiday, it means that all government offices — like social security offices, DMV locations, and post offices — will be closed on November 11. This includes most local government offices and schools.

Most banks will be closed on Veterans Day, though GoBankingRates noted that there are a few exceptions, including banks that have branches in grocery stores.

  • HSBC: All branches open
  • PNC Bank: In-store locations open
  • SunTrust Bank: In-store locations will remain open
  • TD Bank: All branches open
  • U.S. Bank: Some branches open

What’s open on Veterans Day 2016

Because Veterans Day is a day off from school for most kids as well as a popular shopping day, nearly all national retail stores and restaurants will be open and operating on full hours. This means that Walmart, Sears, KMart, Target, Costco, and Sam’s Club locations will be open on Veterans Day. The same is true of restaurants like Applebees, IHOP, Denny’s, and T.G.I. Friday’s.

There are also a number of other destinations looking for business on Veterans Day 2016. This includes movie theaters, shopping malls, and other attractions like museums.

Best Veterans Day 2016 sales

The holiday has always been meant to honor those who served in the U.S. military, and its origin dates back to the end of the biggest war the world had ever seen at the time.

As NJ.com noted, the holiday was established at the end of World War I.

“The holiday’s origin dates back to World War I. Seven months before “The Great War” ended on June 28, 1919, a temporary cease fire was declared between Allied forces and Germany. The armistice went into effect the year before on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

“The day was originally known as “Armistice Day” after the first World War ended. In 1926, the Congress passed a resolution making the day an annual day of observance. It became a national holiday in 1938. The name was changed to Veterans Day by President Eisenhower in 1954. The holiday is often confused with Memorial Day.”

And to honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, there are a few dozen restaurants and other stories offering freebies to veterans on November 11. This includes free meals from a special menu at Applebees, free pancakes from IHOP, and even free admission to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

A full list of Veterans Day 2016 freebies can be found here.

There are plenty of other general sales on Veterans Day, which now kicks off the holiday shopping season as something of an extended Black Friday.

While this list includes what’s open and closed on Veterans Day nationwide, there are likely some local stores and restaurants that may have limited hours on November 11. If there’s a local stop you’re making and you’re not sure if it will be open, it’s best to call ahead and see.

[Featured Image by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

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