Hackers hit Zenith Bank, steal customers’ information

Hackers have compromised the database of Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions, stealing customers’ information.

Zenith confirmed the attack in email to customers on Tuesday.

The bank, however, said the hackers accessed limited customer information, “including email addresses and phone numbers, during a cyber attack that forms part of a broader global attack on organisations across different sectors”.

The bank assured that the incident involved only limited customer information, and did not affect banking services and digital channels, which have remained secure and fully operational.

The bank said it is investigating the attack.

“As a precaution, we encourage our customers to remain vigilant against phishing emails, text messages, or phone calls, and to never disclose their password, PIN, One-Time Password (OTP), or other security credentials to anyone,” the bank said.

Zenith Bank said it remains committed to protecting customers’ information and thanked them for their continued trust, adding that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The latest attack comes months after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) warned the public of cyber hack attempts to gain access to personal accounts of Nigerians.

The CBN said the hackers were circulating fraudulent messages and emails falsely claiming to originate from the bank.

According to the financial regulator, there were misleading messages circulating, designed to deceive Nigerians and compromise their personal information.

The regulator said the fake communications, which include emails and online messages, often prompt recipients to click suspicious links while spreading false claims about the bank’s leadership, licensing activities, and policy decisions.