Customers groan over banks’ downtime on e-transactions

By Chris Agabi (Abuja) & Abiodun Alade (Lagos)

Customers of banks are having difficulties in making electronic transactions following what the banks have described as “network failure.”

Daily Trust observed that for over a week, most banks have been experiencing downtime in their networks thus making it difficult for customers to make seamless transactions across the multiple channels.

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The channels that have been impacted included, electronic transfers over the counter to other banks, PoS transactions, mobile app transactions and ATMs withdrawals.

Our correspondent who visited the United Bank for Africa Plc at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja saw several customers who had issues completing transactions from their mobile apps and even over the counter. Transfers that were done got reversed after several hours. 

A cashier told our correspondent that there was a huge network failure and all the banks were suffering from failed transactions, noting that the end of month pressure and banks’ reconciliations have made the situation worse.

A check at Access Bank in Abuja also revealed a similar challenge and on social media, some bank customers lamented the challenges.

According to a Twitter user, @ozzyyetomi: “Is it me, or does it feel like there’s a higher rate of failed transactions/transfers, reversals/POS failures etc lately?”

There were other responses on her trails indicating customers of GT Bank, Zenith Bank, First Bank and Access Bank, facing similar issues.

The Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS), a core multiple transaction clearing house, was yet to notify the public of the network challenges. Its Head, Corporate Communications at NIBSS, Lilian Phido, said the network challenge could be an internal issue with the banks and not from the NIBSS platform.