Customers of Zenith Bank took to social media on Tuesday to express their frustration over difficulties with online banking services, following the bank’s announcement of scheduled maintenance from September 29 to October 1.
The bank had notified customers on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday that it would carry out routine maintenance of its Information Technology infrastructure. The maintenance was initially scheduled to take place from 12:01 AM to 5:00 AM on the specified days, with a specific service downtime between 12:01 AM and 2:30 PM on October 1.
However, customers reported widespread service disruptions, including challenges with payments and account access, throughout the day on Tuesday. Many expressed disappointment, claiming that the bank did not commence maintenance as planned, leading to delays in transactions.
Olaniyi Oludare, a customer who spoke with a correspondent, expressed frustration over the disruption. He mentioned being unable to withdraw money for basic needs, forcing him to borrow funds from colleagues. “It’s frustrating. I haven’t eaten all day because I couldn’t withdraw money,” Oludare said.
Another customer, Adeleye A. P., tweeting as #deji4ever, criticized the bank’s decision to schedule maintenance during a busy period, especially at the end of the month when employees are expecting their salaries. “Why deny customers transfer privileges on the last day of the month? It’s a bad business strategy,” he tweeted.
In response to the growing outcry, Zenith Bank issued a statement reiterating that the ongoing maintenance was essential for improving service quality. The bank apologized for the inconvenience and assured customers that efforts were being made to minimize service interruptions.
Despite the explanation, customers continued to call for maintenance to be conducted during off-peak hours, with many emphasizing the importance of timely access to banking services, especially in emergencies.
As of Tuesday evening, several users were still experiencing issues with the bank’s online platforms and continued to voice their concerns on social media.
