Businesses urged to avoid payroll delays due to upcoming European May Day on Friday 1st May

Businesses urged to avoid payroll delays due to upcoming European May Day on Friday 1st May

Friday 24^th April 2026 – Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) is today advising consumers and businesses, that the upcoming European May Day holiday on Friday 1st May, means that electronic euro payments on that day may be subject to delays. Businesses paying wages, salaries or suppliers are urged to submit payment requests in advance.

Rachel McMahon, Manager of Payment Schemes, BPFI explained: “This year, European May Day falls on Friday 1^st May and European institutions, including the European Central Bank, which operates the banking settlement system across Europe, will be closed. While banks are open in Ireland on that day, some electronic euro payments cannot be made to bank accounts in Ireland or anywhere else across Europe. Given that this will be followed by a bank holiday in Ireland on Monday 4^th May, anyone expecting a euro payment into their bank account on 1^st May may not receive it until Tuesday 5^th May.”

“BPFI is advising consumers, and particularly businesses paying employees or suppliers, to allow additional time for payments to reach the recipient. Employers who normally pay weekly wages into employees’ accounts on a Friday, or monthly salaries on the 1^st of the month, are advised to submit their payment requests to their bank by Wednesday 29^th April so that employees receive their funds on Thursday 30^th April. Standard payment processing cycles will resume from Tuesday 5^th May.”

BPFI member banks are engaging directly with their customers and government departments to ensure that, where necessary, impacted payments are paid early and are processed on time. As such, customers should raise any queries they may have directly with their bank, credit union or post office.

SEPA Instant payments can be made 24 hours a day, any day of the year, and are unaffected.

ENDS/

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) represents the banking, payments and fintech sector in Ireland. Together with its affiliates, the Federation of International Banks in Ireland and the Fintech & Payments Association of Ireland, BPFI has over 120 member institutions and associates, including licensed domestic and foreign banks and institutions operating in the financial marketplace.

Contact: Fiona Murphy, Head of Communications, fiona.murphy@bpfi.ie or Jillian Heffernan, Director of Communications, jillian.heffernan@bpfi.ie.