Lets start a petition to cancel the holidays

[jeffandnicole]

All posts relating to banks closing on fed holidays at the bottom of page 3 are incorrect.  TD Bank is open on some Federal Holidays:

Per their website: http://www.tdbank.com/bank/holiday_schedule.html

TD Bank 2013 Holiday Schedule

We make banking easy. That's why we're open when most banks are closed. Now that's convenient!

TD Bank stores are open on the following federal holidays in 2013:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day   Monday, January 21
President's Day   Monday, February 18
Memorial Day   Monday, May 27 - open 'til 1PM
Independence Day   Thursday, July 4 - open 'til 1PM
Columbus Day   Monday, October 14
Veterans Day   Monday, November 11
NOTE: All transactions made on federal holidays will be processed the next business day.

We work hard to be there when you need us - but even our dedicated TD Bank team members need an occasional day off. Our TD Bank stores are closed on the following 2013 holidays:

New Year's Day   Tuesday, January 1
Easter Sunday   Sunday, March 31
Labor Day   Monday, September 2
Thanksgiving Day   Thursday, November 28
Christmas   Wednesday, December 25
The Supermarket stores will follow the same holiday schedule as traditional stores. 

Note: This bank is also open on Sundays. And that includes both inside and drive-thru.

[Big John]

All posts relating to banks closing on fed holidays at the bottom of page 3 are incorrect.  TD Bank is open on some Federal Holidays:

Per their website: http://www.tdbank.com/bank/holiday_schedule.html

TD Bank 2013 Holiday Schedule

We make banking easy. That's why we're open when most banks are closed. Now that's convenient!

TD Bank stores are open on the following federal holidays in 2013:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day   Monday, January 21
President's Day   Monday, February 18
Memorial Day   Monday, May 27 - open 'til 1PM
Independence Day   Thursday, July 4 - open 'til 1PM
Columbus Day   Monday, October 14
Veterans Day   Monday, November 11
NOTE: All transactions made on federal holidays will be processed the next business day.

We work hard to be there when you need us - but even our dedicated TD Bank team members need an occasional day off. Our TD Bank stores are closed on the following 2013 holidays:

New Year's Day   Tuesday, January 1
Easter Sunday   Sunday, March 31
Labor Day   Monday, September 2
Thanksgiving Day   Thursday, November 28
Christmas   Wednesday, December 25
The Supermarket stores will follow the same holiday schedule as traditional stores. 

Note: This bank is also open on Sundays. And that includes both inside and drive-thru.

More on what you just posted: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/07/banks_dont_have_to_close_on_ho.html

[1995hoo]

All posts relating to banks closing on fed holidays at the bottom of page 3 are incorrect.  TD Bank is open on some Federal Holidays:

....

Thanks for that.

[jeffandnicole]

TD Bank bought/merged with Commerce Bank, which was always known for their customer-friendly hours.  Traditionally, Commerce Bank was open 7:30am - 8pm M-F, Saturday from 7:30am - 6pm and Sunday from 11-4.  Most of those hours were for both inside (evenings Mon, Tue, & Wed, and 3pm - 6pm Saturday were the notable exceptions) and drive-in customers.  On Black Friday, they would even open at 6:30am if you wanted to come in for your money (or any other banking need).

The tradeoff is their interest rates generally suck.  Even worse than the sucky rates we've been used to at most banks during the past few years.

But if you need to access a safety deposit box Sunday afternoon, or want to stop at the bank on the way to work, this was the bank for you.  They even allowed you to withdrawal money from another bank's ATM without a fee! (The bank you were at would charge you though).  So at Wawa and other places that don't charge a fee, one could withdrawal money at no charge.

Since TD Bank took them over, they've made a few changes...TD Bank will charge you now at an out-of-network ATM, and that fee is going up from $2 to $3.  Hours, starting Nov. 4, will be shortened slightly (opening 8am weekdays, closing 3pm Sunday, for example).  And numerous fees that Commerce never charged became the norm at TD Bank.

[DaBigE]

Meanwhile, you can always order Chinese food on Christmas and not feel bad about ruining anyone's holiday.

Didn't they make a movie that was based in part on that premise? Something about the neighbor's dogs getting in the house and eating the Christmas turkey, and when the family goes to a Chinese restaurant, the server whacks the duck's head off with a machete.

A Christmas Story
That scene was at the end of the movie...after Ralphie "shot his eye out".

[PHLBOS]

Meanwhile, you can always order Chinese food on Christmas and not feel bad about ruining anyone's holiday.

Didn't they make a movie that was based in part on that premise? Something about the neighbor's dogs getting in the house and eating the Christmas turkey, and when the family goes to a Chinese restaurant, the server whacks the duck's head off with a machete.

A Christmas Story
That scene was at the end of the movie...after Ralphie "shot his eye out".

The video clip of the scene:

TD Bank bought/merged with Commerce Bank, which was always known for their customer-friendly hours.  Traditionally, Commerce Bank was open 7:30am - 8pm M-F, Saturday from 7:30am - 6pm and Sunday from 11-4.  Most of those hours were for both inside (evenings Mon, Tue, & Wed, and 3pm - 6pm Saturday were the notable exceptions) and drive-in customers.  On Black Friday, they would even open at 6:30am if you wanted to come in for your money (or any other banking need).

The tradeoff is their interest rates generally suck.  Even worse than the sucky rates we've been used to at most banks during the past few years.

But if you need to access a safety deposit box Sunday afternoon, or want to stop at the bank on the way to work, this was the bank for you.  They even allowed you to withdrawal money from another bank's ATM without a fee! (The bank you were at would charge you though).  So at Wawa and other places that don't charge a fee, one could withdrawal money at no charge.

Since TD Bank took them over, they've made a few changes...TD Bank will charge you now at an out-of-network ATM, and that fee is going up from $2 to $3.  Hours, starting Nov. 4, will be shortened slightly (opening 8am weekdays, closing 3pm Sunday, for example).  And numerous fees that Commerce never charged became the norm at TD Bank.

Some of those changes are causing me to dislike TD Bank more and more as time goes on.  I was a big supporter of most of the old Commerce Bank model & policies.

At least at the branch near me (Glenolden, PA near the MacDade Mall), the majority of those shortened hours are for the lobby (walk-in) vs. the drive-thru.  Ever since gas broke $2.50/gallon several years ago; I almost never use a drive-thru for anything because idling while waiting in line needlessly burns more gas.  Adding insult to injury, the new lobby hours for Mon.-Wed. has the bank only open until 5 PM.  On a good day, I get off work in Philly around 4:30 PM.  If there's something I need to have done at my home branch; I'm now out of luck.  While I do have one or two branches in Philly within reasonable proximity to where I work; if they're adopting the same chincier hours (and they have no drive-thru); I may haev a similar problem getting to them after work hours.

We now rejoin our regularly-scheduled topic already in progress.

[hbelkins]

A Christmas Story
That scene was at the end of the movie...after Ralphie "shot his eye out".

I knew that, of course. I love that movie. Another case where sarcasm doesn't always translate to the non-spoken word.

I thought the reason was that if there's a run on the bank, they need to be able to reach federal workers at their nearest branch of the Federal Reserve, and if those federal workers are on holiday that would be a problem.

That shouldn't be an issue. Highway workers can be reached when there is an emergency on a holiday.

[jeffandnicole]

I wanted to sarcastically respond with Christmas Vacation (Best part: the "Pledge of Allegiance" Prayer at dinner)...but then I started talking about the bank and forgot.

[formulanone]

...but then I started talking about the bank and forgot.

You had your mind on that upcoming Jelly of the Month club membership, didn't you?

[Brandon]

...but then I started talking about the bank and forgot.

You had your mind on that upcoming Jelly of the Month club membership, didn't you?

Clark, that's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

[kkt]

All posts relating to banks closing on fed holidays at the bottom of page 3 are incorrect.  TD Bank is open on some Federal Holidays:

Per their website: http://www.tdbank.com/bank/holiday_schedule.html

TD Bank 2013 Holiday Schedule

We make banking easy. That's why we're open when most banks are closed. Now that's convenient!

TD Bank stores are open on the following federal holidays in 2013:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day   Monday, January 21
President's Day   Monday, February 18
Memorial Day   Monday, May 27 - open 'til 1PM
Independence Day   Thursday, July 4 - open 'til 1PM
Columbus Day   Monday, October 14
Veterans Day   Monday, November 11
NOTE: All transactions made on federal holidays will be processed the next business day.

We work hard to be there when you need us - but even our dedicated TD Bank team members need an occasional day off. Our TD Bank stores are closed on the following 2013 holidays:

New Year's Day   Tuesday, January 1
Easter Sunday   Sunday, March 31
Labor Day   Monday, September 2
Thanksgiving Day   Thursday, November 28
Christmas   Wednesday, December 25
The Supermarket stores will follow the same holiday schedule as traditional stores. 

Note: This bank is also open on Sundays. And that includes both inside and drive-thru.

Interesting, thanks.

[Scott5114]

Banking is a pretty anomalous industry anyway. Most consumer-oriented businesses open early and close late to serve as many customers as possible, including the nine-to-five set. When I worked in a fast food restaurant, our lobby hours were 6am—10pm, and I think that is pretty typical of non-24-hour establishments. Banking still operates, for the most part, nine-to-five hours and closed on holidays, so how they expect the common folk who work those hours to make it in to do business, I don't know.

[Duke87]

The lack of availability of bank tellers outside of 9 to 5 is not a big problem since 99% of trips to the bank can be completely taken care of by an ATM, and those are available 24/7. For anything else, I just run out of the office for a few minutes whenever I get a chance. Though this will be more difficult for people who do not work right down the block from a bank, or who are on a clock and can't just run out for a few minutes whenever they feel like it.

Also, banks aren't unique: the post office closes at 5 PM too.

[Revive 755]

^^ Some states still do keep the two days separate.  Illinois celebrates Lincoln's Birthday in addition to Presidents' Day.  Illinois also celebrates Casmir Pulaski Day (March 3).  Don't try to call IDOT on March 3rd.  You won't get anything but an answering machine.

IDOT is not supposed to be celebrating Casmir Pulaski Day:
http://www2.illinois.gov/cms/Employees/Personnel/Pages/StateHolidays.aspx

NJ still observes "Election Day", so anything state government related is closed.  Why the state workers are given the day off - well, the reasoning is that it gives them time to vote.  But...the booths are open 6am - 8pm, so there's PLENTY of time for them to vote before or after work!

The story I heard for at least why Illinois give it's employees Election Day off was that in the past it used to be common for new administrations to lay off most of the state employees.  The employees were given the day off to campaign for respective political candidate.

[hbelkins]

Kentucky gives state employees four hours off to vote in any primary, general or special election. But you have to sign an affidavit that you actually did vote and submit that to the payroll clerk, and state government has checked voter sign-in books to ensure that employees who took time off to vote actually did cast a ballot.

[corco]

Yeah we get it off in Montana, but only in even numbered years. Local elections are all done by mail ballot, so there's no need to give people time off to drive to their polling place.

Oddly, where I live, county road crews get Primary Election Day off but none of the other county employees do. Montana is a union state, but road crews aren't unionized (though they threaten too) so I'm not sure if that's the reason, since they also get Good Friday off unlike the rest of the state.

[Duke87]

I have never heard of employees anywhere getting election day off, even partially. Although you can always use personal time for that purpose if making it to the polls and a full day of work is tricky.

Growing up students didn't have school on election day because the schools were used as polling places (and there was no gym class that week while they were setting the voting machines up before and then putting them away after), but I believe the board of ed used election day as a staff development day, so the teachers didn't have the day off.

[english si]

Originally Christmas was celebrated on January 6th (on Epiphany) rather than Dec 25th.

No - the Dec 25 date came very early on (see above). The Eastern churches celebrate in January as they are on the Julian calendar (or a modification of it), which is 13 days off the Gregorian calendar. Epiphany was perhaps a bigger festival originally, having become overshadowed by Christmas.

it was moved to the earlier date and took the place of the druidic/pagan holiday.

Except there's no evidence of a Dec 25th pagan festival until after evidence for Dec 25th Christmas. That's despite it being the solstice - Julius chose New Year to be a week afterwards, which makes no sense if the 25th (winter solstice) was in anyway important for Rome's magpie religion.

The catholic church has had a bad rap due to a variety of reasons. like the dark ages

The dark ages are dark as hordes of barbarians (Germanic tribes, Vikings, Arabs) did a lot of skirmishes into what was the Roman Empire, as such civilisation kept on being destroyed and rebuilt and destroyed. The Church was the only bit of light in the time (and massively so in the East, where the Roman Empire still existed), and the Roman Catholic (don't forget that Constantinople was still Catholic until Rome rudely excommunicated them in 1054, which was just after the dark ages) Church got its power due to it being the only civilisation that survived.

[Scott5114]

The lack of availability of bank tellers outside of 9 to 5 is not a big problem since 99% of trips to the bank can be completely taken care of by an ATM, and those are available 24/7.

Yeah, if you like $20 bills. I don't (I use cash mostly in situations where I'm spending around $10, so I prefer $10s).

[1995hoo]

I have never heard of employees anywhere getting election day off, even partially. Although you can always use personal time for that purpose if making it to the polls and a full day of work is tricky.

Growing up students didn't have school on election day because the schools were used as polling places (and there was no gym class that week while they were setting the voting machines up before and then putting them away after), but I believe the board of ed used election day as a staff development day, so the teachers didn't have the day off.

When I was a kid we has school on Election Day and our school was a polling place. We were ordered to keep silent at lunch that day because the voting machines were in the cafeteria (really stupid idea). Nowadays in Fairfax County Election Day is a teacher workday because they realized the old way was stupid.

[hotdogPi]

I still have no school on Election Day this year.

[DaBigE]

Also, banks aren't unique: the post office closes at 5 PM too.

Not all of them. The one in my town is open until 6pm M-F. Madison's main post office is open until 7pm M-F. However, the POs in many smaller towns are open much shorter hours, many only open until 4 or 4:30pm, one I found was only open until 12:30pm

[realjd]

Indiana bans the sale of alcohol (package and on-premises) until the polls close to prevent drunks voting. Not being able to get a lunch beer on Election Day always pissed us off back when I was in college for my bachelors at Purdue.

[Scott5114]

If anything needs to be banned, it's Black Friday. People have died because of the mob mentality that bargain-hunters get.

[Zmapper]

I have never heard of employees anywhere getting election day off, even partially. Although you can always use personal time for that purpose if making it to the polls and a full day of work is tricky.

Growing up students didn't have school on election day because the schools were used as polling places (and there was no gym class that week while they were setting the voting machines up before and then putting them away after), but I believe the board of ed used election day as a staff development day, so the teachers didn't have the day off.

When I was a kid we has school on Election Day and our school was a polling place. We were ordered to keep silent at lunch that day because the voting machines were in the cafeteria (really stupid idea). Nowadays in Fairfax County Election Day is a teacher workday because they realized the old way was stupid.

I would think this would actually decrease voter turnout. Assuming nobody else would normally be around the house, if elementary-age schoolchildren are not in school on a regular workday, then their parents either need to pay for daycare or stay home to watch them, which would prevent parents from voting during normal school hours.