Banking Organization’s Power to Close Offices on Holidays and During Emergencies

Del. Code tit. 5, ch. 13

in effect

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1301 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Officers” means those persons designated by the banking organization’s board of directors or trustees to act for the banking organization. (2) “Emergency” means any condition which interferes with the conduct of normal business operations at 1 or more of a banking organization’s offices, or which poses an imminent or existing threat to the safety and security of persons or property, or both. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, an emergency may arise as a result of any 1 or more of the following: Fire, flood, wind, ice, rain or snow, labor dispute, power failure, transportation failure, war, nuclear incident, riot, civil commotion or other acts of lawlessness or violence. (3) “Office” means any place at which a banking organization transacts business or conducts operations related to the transaction of business, and shall specifically include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, automatic teller machines.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1302 Closing on legal holidays.

Any banking organization may, at its option, either close or remain open on Saturdays, Sundays and the legal holidays designated in § 501 of Title 1 and holidays observed by the Federal Reserve Bank for the district which includes Delaware. As to any banking organization electing to remain open on any of such holidays, such day or days shall not constitute a holiday within the meaning of the laws of this State, and such banking organization shall incur no liability by reason of remaining open on such holiday. If any banking organization elects to close on any such holidays, any act authorized, required or permitted to be performed at or by such banking organization may be performed on the next succeeding banking day and no liability or loss of rights of any kind shall result from remaining closed, notwithstanding any law of this State to the contrary. This section shall not operate to invalidate or prohibit the doing of any act by any person or banking organization on any of such holidays, and nothing in any laws of this State, in any manner whatsoever, shall affect the validity or render void or voidable the payment, certification or acceptance of a check or any other negotiable instrument or any other transaction by any other person or banking organization, because done or performed during any of such holidays, notwithstanding any other law of this State to the contrary.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1303 Proclamation of emergency.

Whenever the Governor declares a disaster or emergency under Chapter 31 of Title 20, banking organizations may close 1 or more or all of their offices when in the opinion of their officers such offices are directly or indirectly affected by such disaster or emergency.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1304 Powers of officers.

Whenever the officers of a banking organization are of the opinion that an emergency exists which affects 1 or more of the organization’s offices, they shall have the authority to close 1 or more or all such offices even though the Governor has not issued and does not issue a proclamation of emergency, and they may, but need not, provide that the business normally transacted at a closed office will be transacted at another office designated by the bank until further notice. The discretion of the officers in acting pursuant to this section, when exercised in good faith, shall not be questioned in any court or place or by any State agency.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1305 Prompt notice required.

A banking organization closing an office or offices pursuant to this chapter shall give as prompt notice to the State Bank Commissioner of its action as conditions will permit.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1306 Immunity from liability.

No banking organization and no director, officer or employee of a bank shall be liable to any person for any direct or indirect loss suffered by such person by reason of the organization’s failure or inability to make the organization’s premises and facilities available to such person, or by reason of the banking organization’s failure to perform, or its delay in performing any contractual, statutory or other duty assumed by or imposed upon it in any capacity, when such failure, inability or delay is caused by an emergency as defined by this chapter.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1307 Construction of chapter.

This chapter shall be construed and applied as being in addition to and not in substitution for any other law of this State or of the United States excusing delays by banking organizations in the performance of duties or obligations, or authorizing the closing of banking organizations because of emergencies or conditions beyond the organization’s control or otherwise.

Del. Code tit. 5, § 1308 Limited operations authorized.

A bank office closed as authorized by this chapter may nonetheless conduct limited operations and perform banking transactions.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title5/c013/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026