From 25 to 28 December, money in Europe will not reach its addressees

From 25 to 28 December, bank transfers between European banks will be temporarily frozen. The reason is not a failure, but a planned shutdown of the European Central Bank's (ECB) payment systems for the festive period.

This means that if you decide to transfer your salary, pay a bill or send traditional cash gifts between 25 and 28 December, the recipient will only see the money in their account on 29 December. We are talking about standard interbank transfers - in particular SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), which covers 40 countries. Such transactions go through the settlement system controlled by the ECB, which is not open at weekends and on public holidays, including Christmas (25 and 26 December) and New Year's Eve (1 January).

Banks and regulators are warning about this in advance. As the French Federation of Banks (FBF) notes, the calendar of payment system closures was published back in September 2024 and communicated to corporate clients. Nevertheless, many individuals and even small companies face a surprise every year: a payment has been made, but the money is stuck "halfway".

However, not all transfers are subject to this restriction. Instant payment services such as Wero continue to operate even after hours, as do transfers between accounts within the same bank. This is particularly important for urgent settlements and confirms the importance of the transition to digital and automated systems in the European financial infrastructure.

The next such "window of silence" is expected on Easter - from 3 to 6 April 2026, and then on 1 May. On all other holidays, payment systems will operate as usual.