FirstBank has announced a temporary disruption across key digital banking platforms, leaving some customers unable to complete transactions.
In a notice issued on Thursday, the lender said the downtime is affecting transactions on FirstMobile, FirstOnline, and its USSD (*894#) service.
“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 circular read.
The bank apologized for the inconvenience and assured customers that its technical team, working with service partners, is working to restore normal service. “We regret the inconveniences this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.
“Our team is working with our partners to restore services as quickly as possible, and we will provide updates once services are fully restored,” the bank added.
The disruption comes two months after FirstBank rolled out a facial biometric feature on its FirstMobile app. The update was designed to improve onboarding and strengthen security by allowing customers to activate their devices without a debit card.
The system uses advanced facial recognition and anti-spoofing technology to protect against impersonation and fraud. It caters to customers without debit cards, those in the diaspora, card-free users, and individuals with lost or expired cards.
By introducing the feature, the bank said it aimed to make transfers, bill payments, and other transactions more seamless for its 42 million customers.
Despite the current downtime, FirstBank reaffirmed its commitment to innovation and customer service, stressing that full access will be restored soon.
