ANZ Bank suffers major outage

Customers have been left unable to use their credit or debit cards, access online banking services or ATMs.

Women using an ANZ Bank ATM in the CBD in Sydney Australia. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Big four bank ANZ has suffered a major technology outage, with some customers reporting of being unable to use their credit or debit cards, access online banking services or ATMs.

ANZ customers complained on social media and outage website DownDetector of issues starting around 11am on Friday.

“We are aware of an issue that is impacting our ANZ Plus, ANZ App, Internet Banking, Credit/Debit Card transactions, ATM, Contact Centre and Branch services,” the bank said in an initial statement on Friday.

“We are working to resolve this as quick as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience this is causing.”

Hundreds of users reported issues on Twitter, with some saying they were left unable to pay workers’ salaries or bills. Customers also reported being unable to reach the bank via their telephone line.

“It’s Friday afternoon and our internet banking and app are not working? We have workers and bills to pay!” one user wrote on social media.

The issues were partly resolved by 6pm AEST, but ANZ said it was “still experiencing some instability across Visa credit card transaction services”. It recommended customers use debit cards or cash wherever possible.

ANZ has been undergoing a major digital transformation project, overhauling its technology infrastructure following what its critics say has been years of underinvestment. Until the project is finished the bank has had to rely on its legacy technology.

ANZ was contacted for further comment.

Meanwhile shoppers at some Woolworths stores in the ACT, Victoria and NSW also reported being able to access EFTPOS services.

It was unclear whether the issues were related.

“The cause has been identified and EFTPOS is being restored,” a Woolworths spokesman said late on Friday. “We thank everyone for bearing with us this morning.”