CHASE has confirmed that it will close all of its branches for a full day very soon, leaving users facing another banking blackout.
So far this year, Americans have been forced to work around several federal holidays, and another one coming up will cause similar disruption.
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The US Sun recently reported on some of the biggest services in the country announcing their status for Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday to mark the day that the last of the African American slaves were freed by Abraham Lincoln.
The Emancipation Proclamation became one of the most crucial documents in American history after it was issued in 1863.
Juneteenth is a fairly new federal holiday to be celebrated in the US, after Joe Biden declared it so in 2021.
The holiday falls on Thursday, June 19, meaning there isn’t long to go until major services are brought to a standstill.
As far as mail services go, the USPS will partially freeze on the day itself and only be running a few of its services.
Counter service for the USPS will be down, but there will still be employees delivering packages and processing mail.
So, you will still be able to get your deliveries, but you will not be able to go to an office for an in person inquiry.
One of the other biggest mail carriers in the US, FedEx, will be acting as one of the main alternatives.
FedEx will be operating FedEx delivery, FedEx Freight and the FedEx Office.
While both FedEx and the USPS will be working on deliveries and processing, FedEx will be available for in person transactions.
It is important to note that FedEx will not be acting in lieu of the USPS.
CHASED OUT
Given that Juneteenth is now classified as a federal holiday, it does not bode well for America’s banking network, per The US Sun.
Major banks like Chase and Wells Fargo will be closed for Juneteenth.
Juneteenth explained
Juneteenth is the holiday to celebrate the date in 1865 when the last enslaved people in America were freed, and slavery ended.
It originated in Galveston, Texas, and recognized the day Union General Gordon Granger rode to the city and told slaves of their emancipation in 1865.
Although it only became nationally recognised as a holiday in 2021, it was a state holiday in several places before then.
The first state to mark the occasion as a holiday was Texas in 1980, and by 2008, almost half US states observed it as a holiday.
While not every state marks it as a paid holiday, Juneteenth has risen in recognisability in recent years.
It was made a federal holiday by Joe Biden in 2021.
A total of 27 states recognise it as a paid day, including Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Texas.
Juneteenth often causes a lot of disruption to public services, with most major banks often shutting down for the entire day.
Juneteenth has not always received full support however, with right wing commentator Candace Owens brandishing the holiday as “lame” and a Democratic move to “repackage segregation”.
However, Juneteenth has had powerful backers in the past, including Donald Trump.
He has claimed in the past that he was the reason Juneteenth has become so famous, stating that he had done “something good” by spotlighting the day.
Americans can expect other big names like Bank of America and Citibank to close their doors for Juneteenth, too.
As a result, Americans are advised to work around Thursday, June 19.
They will need to do this for other major federal offices, like for Social Security and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Americans have already had to put their errands on hold for several holidays this year already, including for Easter Sunday and Mmeoiral Day.
Other federal holidays coming up include July 4, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Juneteenth is a vital holiday in the calendar, and it’s a time for people to come together and remember a turning point in history.
The day often welcomes big family gatherings, forms of creative expression, and educational opportunities.
You can take the time to educate yourself on America’s dark pat through instituions like libraries of special museum exhibitions.
Places near you may offer lectures or opportunities to learn more about Juneteenth and African American history.
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