Megan Brooks
On Friday, May 2, 2025, a massive technology outage affected online banking systems worldwide, causing almost two dozen banks to go offline. The outage was caused by issues with Fiserv, one of the largest backend service providers in the US financial system, and affected everything from mobile app functionality to ACH processing, online bill payments, and money transfers. Banks impacted by the outage included major institutions such as Ally, Bank of America, TD Bank, Capital One, Synchrony, and Citizens Bank, as well as regional and local banks and credit unions. In addition to banks, the outage also impacted payment services and grounded flights, affecting companies such as CrowdStrike, which provides anti-cyberattack services to Microsoft and other large companies. While some banks experienced only intermittent issues, others were completely offline, leaving customers unable to access their accounts or make transactions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2nd May 2025 |
| Number of banks affected | Almost 2 dozen |
| Banks affected | Mid America Bank, Capital One, Bank of America, TD Bank, Citizens Bank, Northwest Bank, Sunflower Bank, Farmers National Bank in Ohio, Navy Federal, US Bank, Wells Fargo, City National Bank of Florida, Ally, Synchrony, and more |
| Cause | A massive technology outage affecting online banking systems nationwide, traced back to a cybersecurity company called CrowdStrike |
| Services affected | Online banking, mobile banking apps, mobile check deposits, funds transfers, direct deposits, bill payments, money transfers, ATM, mobile login |
| Customer impact | Inability to access accounts, delayed deposits or payments, frozen money |
| Bank responses | Banks have urged customers to be patient with response times; some banks have provided workarounds or alternative contact methods for urgent inquiries |
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What You'll Learn
A 2025 Fiserv outage affects multiple banks
On Friday, 2 May 2025, a Fiserv outage affected multiple banks, causing a disruption in key banking services. Fiserv is one of the largest backend service providers in the US financial system, with 10,000 customers. The outage left customers of dozens of banks and credit unions unable to access basic online banking services, including checking account balances, sending payments through Zelle, and receiving direct deposits.
The issue was apparently caused by problems with Fiserv's core processing software (DNA) and related services like Nautilus (document and content management) and Payment Exchange (real-time transfers). This resulted in the loss of multiple money movement services, including peer-to-peer payments platform Zelle, and affected at least 60 applications for some Fiserv customers. Fiserv provided updates every 15 minutes and larger communications every hour.
Banks affected by the outage included major institutions such as Ally, Bank of America, TD Bank, Capital One, Synchrony, and Citizens Bank, as well as regional and local institutions like Farmers National Bank in Ohio. Mid America Bank was also impacted, with customers reporting issues receiving their paychecks.
The incident highlighted the critical need for financial institutions to strengthen their contingency planning and communication strategies. It underscored the importance of having robust backup systems and clear communication protocols in place to effectively manage similar crises in the future. Banks were encouraged to consider agreements with alternate providers, such as Jack Henry or FIS, to ensure seamless service continuity for their customers.
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CrowdStrike cybersecurity issues cause global outage
On July 19, 2024, a cybersecurity issue at CrowdStrike, an American cybersecurity company, caused a global outage. The company distributed a faulty update to its Falcon Sensor security software, which caused approximately 8.5 million Microsoft Windows computers running the software to crash. This resulted in what has been described as the largest IT outage in history, disrupting daily life, businesses, and governments worldwide.
The cybersecurity issue at CrowdStrike affected various industries, including airlines, airports, banks, hotels, hospitals, manufacturing, stock markets, broadcasting, gas stations, retail stores, and governmental services such as emergency services and websites. The financial impact of the outage has been estimated to be at least US$10 billion.
Numerous American TV stations were unable to broadcast due to the outage. For example, KSHB-TV had to air national news via Scripps News, while ESPN was unable to air the morning editions of SportsCenter, instead broadcasting ESPN Radio's Unsportsmanlike. Various Paramount channels were also affected, including Nicktoons, TeenNick, BET Her, and NickMusic. In addition, the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, sponsored by CrowdStrike, experienced issues during the Hungarian Grand Prix, requiring manual fixes on every computer.
Amazon's trucking operations were disrupted, with drivers unable to pick up loads at warehouses due to issues with a platform called 'Relay'. The outage also affected terminal operations at DCT Gdańsk, a major container hub in Poland, and briefly closed the Port of Houston, which handles the most foreign tonnage in the US. In Sweden, the Malmberget mine was evacuated as a precaution, and soccer game tickets could not be sold.
During a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on September 23, 2024, Adam Meyers, senior vice president of counter adversary operations at CrowdStrike, apologized for the outage. He clarified that it was not due to a cyberattack but a rapid response content update aimed at addressing new threats. Meyers also outlined changes to CrowdStrike's content update procedures to prevent similar incidents, including treating updates like code updates with internal testing and phased implementation.
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US Bank experiences issues
US Bank, one of the largest banks in the country, has experienced various issues over the past few years, including system outages and problems with customer service.
In 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, US Bank's website experienced issues, with many customers reporting trouble logging into their accounts. This issue seemed to be widespread, affecting almost all major banks and was likely due to a high volume of users checking for their stimulus checks.
More recently, in May 2025, US Bank was one of several banks affected by an outage related to Fiserv, a payment processing service. This outage impacted various banks' online platforms and mobile apps, including Zelle, causing transaction issues and delays in transferring funds.
US Bank has also received mixed reviews for its customer service. While some customers praise the bank for its friendly staff and conflict resolution, others have expressed frustration with long hold times, complicated processes, and difficulty resolving issues over the phone. There have also been reports of billing errors, software glitches, and disputes over charges.
At the time of writing, there are no reports of current problems at US Bank, indicating that any previous issues have likely been resolved. However, it is always a good idea to check for updates and stay informed about any potential outages or issues affecting your bank.
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Customers unable to transfer or withdraw money
On April 15, 2020, several customers reported issues with logging into their bank accounts, with some speculating that the influx of people checking their accounts for stimulus checks was causing the apps to crash. PNC and Ally mobile apps were down, while the PNC website worked. Capital One users also reported issues with retrieving their account details.
In May 2025, almost two dozen banks were reported to be down, including Mid America Bank, Bank of America, and Citizens Bank. The issue was attributed to a problem with Fiserv, a payment processing company used by many banks. This resulted in difficulties with transactions and transferring money between accounts.
In some cases, banks may intentionally restrict customers' ability to transfer or withdraw money. For example, banks can place holds on new accounts, delaying the availability of funds for withdrawal. Additionally, banks may limit transfer amounts for security reasons or to comply with regulations.
While it is uncommon for all major banks to experience issues simultaneously, technical difficulties or high traffic can occasionally impact multiple banking systems, causing temporary disruptions in customers' ability to transfer or withdraw funds.
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Banks' websites crash due to high traffic
On the morning of 2 May 2025, almost two dozen banks in the United States were reported to have experienced downtime. Citizens Bank, for instance, confirmed that Zelle, a payment processor, was down. The issue was attributed to a broader outage affecting Fiserv, a company that provides payment processing services to numerous financial institutions. This resulted in transaction issues and online banking disruptions for multiple banks.
While the specific reasons for the high traffic that led to these website crashes are unclear, it is speculated that a potential cause could be a sudden surge in users checking for their stimulus checks. This is supported by the fact that PNC and Ally mobile apps were down, while their websites experienced issues such as slow loading times.
In addition to high traffic from regular users, malicious attacks can also contribute to website crashes. In 2012, six major banks, including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, suffered denial-of-service (DNS) attacks. These attacks occur when intruders overwhelm a server with web traffic, causing the website to slow down or become inaccessible.
To prevent website crashes due to high traffic, it is crucial to ensure that the website's infrastructure can handle the volume of traffic. This involves having sufficient server capacity, employing smart load testing, utilising resilient hosting plans, and implementing a well-tuned content delivery network (CDN). By anticipating and preparing for potential traffic spikes, organisations can minimise the risk of their websites crashing during critical periods.
While most website crashes are preventable, some factors are beyond control. These include human error, network failure, downtime of hosting partners, and malicious cyber-attacks. To enhance resilience against high traffic, organisations should continuously test their servers, proactively maintain their websites, and adopt architectures that can accommodate unexpected surges in traffic.
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Frequently asked questions
No, not all banks are offline this morning. However, several Microsoft users were impacted by a worldwide outage on Friday morning, which affected some banks.
If you are unable to access your bank account, try not to panic. You can try accessing your account through other means, such as mobile banking apps or by visiting a branch in person. It is also recommended to contact your bank by calling the number on the back of your bank card.
Banks may go offline due to technological issues, system updates, or maintenance. In some cases, it could be related to backing up data and restarting server hardware.
To avoid issues with online banking, consider setting up notifications for deposits, withdrawals, and other transactions. Additionally, having a backup account at another bank can provide alternative access to your funds during outages.
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