Still have some Rs 2,000 notes? Here's why you should exchange them right away

Rs 2,000 banknote exchange deadline: The September 30, 2023 deadline for depositing or exchanging Rs 2,000 banknotes is approaching and citizens are being strongly advised to plan their bank visits. With a series of bank holidays scheduled for the month of September 2023, experts recommend that individuals remain vigilant about possible interruptions in banking services. While announcing its decision to discontinue the Rs 2,000 banknotes, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had set September 30, 2023, as the last date for depositing or exchanging them. This means that after this date, these notes will no longer be legal tender.

“The facility for deposit and/or exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes shall be available for members of the public up to September 30, 2023. The facility for exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes shall be provided to all members of the public by all banks through their branches,” RBI had said in its press release dated May 19, 2023.

September's banking breathers

The forthcoming bank holidays in September 2023 include a series of occasions such as Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day, Birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, Janmotsav of Srimanta Sankardeva, and Eid-E-Milad. Across various states in India, there will be a total of 16 bank holidays in September, taking into account Sundays, the second Saturday, and the fourth Saturday, as per the holiday list provided by the Reserve Bank of India.

The state-wise breakdown of bank holidays in September 2023

• September 6, 2023: Shri Krishna Janmashtami - Banks will be closed in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. 
• September 7, 2023: Janmashtami (Shravan Vad-8) and Shri Krishna Ashtami - Banks will be closed in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Jammu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, and Srinagar.
• September 18, 2023: Varasiddhi Vinayak Vrata and Vinayaka Chaturthi - Banks will be closed in Karnataka and Telangana.
• September 19, 2023: Ganesh Chaturthi - Banks will be closed in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Goa.
• September 20, 2023: Ganesh Chaturthi (2nd day) and Nuakhai - Banks will be closed in Odisha and Goa.
• September 22, 2023: Shree Narayana Guru Samadhi Day - Banks will be closed in Kerala.
• September 23, 2023: Fourth Saturday and Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday - Banks will be closed in Jammu and Srinagar.
• September 25, 2023: Birth anniversary of Shrimant Sankardeva - Banks will be closed in Assam.
• September 27, 2023: Milad-e-Sherif (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad) - Banks will be closed in Jammu and Kerala.
• September 28, 2023: Eid-e-Milad or Eid-e-Miladunnabi (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad) - Banks will be closed in Gujarat, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.
• September 29, 2023: Indrajatra and Friday after Eid-e-Milad-ul-Nabi - Banks will be closed in Sikkim, Jammu, and Srinagar.

As the deadline for depositing or exchanging Rs 2,000 notes is drawing closer, potential depositors are encouraged to plan their visits to banks with careful consideration of the holiday schedule. With various closures across different states planned, individuals are advised to ensure their transactions are completed before the stipulated deadline to avoid any inconvenience.