Zenith Bank Plc has announced that its banking channels have been fully restored following a significant disruption that left many customers unable to access their accounts or conduct transactions for several days. The bank confirmed that all services, including its digital platforms, ATMs, POS terminals, and in-person banking, are now back online.
In a public notice, the bank apologized for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and assured its customers that they can now enjoy uninterrupted banking services across all its platforms. Zenith Bank also expressed its gratitude for the patience of its customers during what it described as an IT infrastructure upgrade.
For several days, Zenith Bank customers across Nigeria faced challenges accessing their accounts. Many were unable to use their debit and credit cards, mobile app, internet banking, or even withdraw cash from ATMs. Businesses that rely on Zenith Bank’s Point of Sale (POS) terminals also reported being unable to process payments, causing widespread frustration and financial losses.
The disruption led to a wave of complaints from customers on social media, with many expressing frustration over the sudden outage. Several businesses and individual customers reported difficulties completing transactions, leading to delays in payments and other critical financial activities.
“I tried using the mobile app, but that also wasn’t working. I felt stranded,” said a Lagos-based customer, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Following the restoration of its services, Zenith Bank issued a statement to reassure its customers. The bank acknowledged the disruption and apologized for the inconvenience caused. In the statement, the bank explained that the service disruption was due to an upgrade of its IT infrastructure aimed at improving the overall customer experience.
“Dear Valued Customer, we are pleased to inform you that access to our digital channels has been restored, and you can perform transactions conveniently via your preferred platform,” the bank’s statement read.
Zenith Bank added that it was committed to delivering high-quality banking services and that the new IT infrastructure deployed during the upgrade would ensure better service delivery going forward.
Zenith Bank highlighted that its full range of services has been restored, allowing customers to perform transactions through various channels. These include Zenith Bank Debit, Credit, and Prepaid cards, as well as Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (POS) terminals.
The bank also confirmed that its Mobile App and Internet Banking platform are back online. Customers can once again access the bank’s online banking services, which allow them to check account balances, transfer funds, pay bills, and manage their accounts from the convenience of their mobile devices or computers.
In addition, Zenith Bank’s Agent Banking services, which allow customers to conduct banking transactions at locations close to them without visiting a branch, are fully functional again. The bank also encouraged customers to visit any of its branches nationwide for in-person services.
This incident underscores the increasing reliance on digital banking in Nigeria. Over the past decade, more Nigerians have embraced online and mobile banking platforms, thanks to advancements in technology and efforts by banks to make financial services more accessible.
With the COVID-19 pandemic further accelerating the shift to digital platforms, many Nigerians now depend on mobile apps and internet banking for everything from transferring funds to paying bills and managing their accounts.
This increased dependence means that any disruption in these services can cause significant challenges for customers and businesses alike. Zenith Bank is one of the leaders in digital banking in Nigeria, and the recent service disruption serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining robust and secure banking systems.
