Standard Bank, Africa’s biggest lender by assets, suffered a systems outage on Saturday, leaving scores of fuming SA customers unable to swipe their cards or draw cash on the first cold weekend of the winter.
The bank confirmed in a statement on Saturday morning that it was trying to address “issues” related to customers being unable to use their card at point of sale (POS) devices and ATMs. It instead advised customers to access cash by redeeming an instant money voucher at certain retailers — including Spar, Pick n Pay, Game, Makro, Builders and PEP — or pay using EasyScan at Pick n Pay as an alternative.
Standard Bank said all its digital platforms were still available. The Standard Bank customer call centre also confirmed the systems outage with call-centre agents saying the bank’s IT teams were working on the problems.
“We sincerely apologise and regret the inconvenience caused,” the bank told its customers via text message.
Angry customers also lit up Twitter with many threatening to change banks after they were left stranded at till points and in restaurants unable to pay.
By late Saturday afternoon Standard Bank’s Twitter account (@StandardBankZA) read all services had been fully restored.
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