FBN, Zenith Bank warn customers amid service disruptions, caution against fraudsters

As First Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc continue to grapple with widespread service disruptions, both tier-1 banks have issued warnings to their millions of customers to beware of fraudsters exploiting the situation.

The disruptions have affected critical services such as mobile apps, Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), Internet Banking, and Corporate Internet Banking, leaving many customers unable to access their accounts.

In separate posts across their social media platforms, the banks reassured customers that they would never ask for personal banking details via calls, SMS, or emails.

They emphasized the importance of not disclosing sensitive information such as card details, PINs, or online banking credentials, even if solicited under the guise of resolving ongoing service issues.

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First Bank, in a message posted on X, apologized to its customers for the inconvenience caused by the disruptions and assured them that their technical team was working tirelessly to restore full services.

The bank acknowledged the issues affecting its FirstMobile app but noted that alternative channels such as USSD, First Online, and ATMs remained available for transactions.

“We are aware that you may be experiencing some challenges in transacting on our FirstMobile platform. We do apologize and ask for your patience as we are working to rectify this issue as quickly as possible,” the bank stated.

First Bank also urged customers to be vigilant against fraud attempts during the downtime. “Please be warned of fraudsters who may try to solicit your bank information for fraudulent purposes. We appreciate your patience and will provide updates shortly,” the statement added.

Similarly, Zenith Bank issued a strong warning to its customers, stressing that the bank would never request personal account information via unsolicited messages or calls.

“Zenith Bank would NEVER call, SMS, or email asking for your card details, PIN, token codes, or login details. We would also NEVER ask you to click on a link to update your bank information or activate your account. If you receive such messages, please DO NOT respond,” the bank emphasized.

The service disruptions have caused significant challenges for customers, but both banks have taken steps to mitigate the impact, advising users to use available alternatives and remain cautious against fraudulent activities.