First Bank, Ecobank digital disruption, customers face delays.

First bank has announced a temporary disruption across its major digital banking platforms, leaving some customers unable to complete transactions.

“Please be informed that we are currently experiencing some downtime affecting transactions to other banks on FirstMobile, FirstOnline, and USSD platforms. Customers may therefore experience delayed or declined transactions,” the bank stated.

The outages, which primarily affect interbank transactions, are raising concerns about the stability and resilience of the nation’s financial technology infrastructure.

In a notice to clients on Thursday, First Bank confirmed a system downtime impacting transactions to other banks via its FirstMobile, FirstOnline, and USSD channels.

The lender advised that customers might experience delayed or declined transactions, disrupting a key component of the country’s payment ecosystem.

Similarly, Ecobank notified customers of delays in receiving funds from other institutions, assuring them that its technical teams are working to resolve the issue.

Implications for Businesses and Customers

The simultaneous disruptions at multiple major banks carry significant implications for the wider economy, particularly for businesses and individuals reliant on digital payments.

Operational Gridlock: The inability to complete interbank transfers can create an immediate liquidity squeeze for businesses, halting critical operations such as vendor payments, payroll, and supply chain logistic