Friday, 25 April 2025
29.6 C
Singapore
33.4 C
Thailand
26.4 C
Indonesia
28.7 C
Philippines

Data centre glitch disrupts digital banking services at DBS and Citibank

Widespread banking service disruptions affected DBS and Citibank on October 14 in Singapore, impacting ATMs, online and mobile services for hours.

Singapore’s DBS and Citibank customers faced several hours of service disruption on Saturday, October 14. The outage affected various digital services, including online banking and payment platforms.

The root of the problem

Both banks pointed to a technical issue at a data centre as the cause. DBS stated that the problem was at a data centre used by multiple organisations. The bank swung into action to shift to its backup data centre and started restoring services progressively from 7 pm. By 10:10 pm, they announced that all ATMs were operational again, although some digital services remained offline. 

Data centre provider Equinix confirmed that the technical glitch had been resolved and is in contact with affected customers. Citibank described the problem as a “temporary outage” and began restoring services as well.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore kept in the loop

Both banks promptly informed the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) about the service disruptions. The authority revealed that its initial investigations indicated that a common data centre used by both banks was the culprit. MAS is following up closely with both financial institutions to ensure the complete restoration of services and effective communication with affected customers.

Public response and previous incidents

The outage started around 3 pm and was widely reported on social media and Downdetector, a website that tracks service disruptions. Many users expressed their frustrations, citing problems with ongoing transactions and payments at retail outlets. DBS reopened all but three of its branches to deal with the situation and assured customers that their money and deposits were safe. This is not the first time DBS has faced such disruptions. Earlier this year, the bank experienced two similar incidents that led MAS to impose additional capital requirements.

Notably, the disruption was not limited to Singapore; customers outside the country reported difficulties using credit cards issued by these banks for online transactions. Meanwhile, services from other local banks like UOB and OCBC remained unaffected, although some OCBC customers reported issues completing transactions involving DBS.

While digital disruptions are an operational risk, the quick response from DBS and Citibank and the oversight from MAS are steps in the right direction to instil confidence among users. The event also serves as a reminder to banks and service providers to continually enhance their digital infrastructure to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Hot this week

Preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 officially begin on April 24

Preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 open on April 24. The device's launch date is June 5, and it offers new features, games, and accessories to explore.

Tesla profits drop sharply as sales weaken and Musk backlash grows

Tesla’s profits fall 71% as sales dip, political backlash grows, and hopes turn to cheaper EVs and robotaxi plans.

ChatGPT joins forces with The Washington Post in new content partnership

OpenAI partners with The Washington Post to bring trusted news summaries to ChatGPT, offering better access to reliable information.

POCO launches entry-level C71 smartphone in Singapore with premium features

POCO launches the budget-friendly C71 smartphone in Singapore, offering premium design, enhanced cameras, and smooth performance at S$109.

Proofpoint launches unified cybersecurity platform to cut costs and tackle multichannel threats

Proofpoint launches Prime Threat Protection, a unified cybersecurity platform tackling human risk and multichannel threats while reducing costs.

WhatsApp adds new Advanced Chat Privacy feature to boost group chat security

WhatsApp's new Advanced Chat Privacy feature helps stop group chat content from being shared or saved outside the app.

Global PC shipments rise 6.7% in early 2025 as AI and tariffs drive demand

PC shipments rose 6.7% in Q1 2025, boosted by AI demand and tariff concerns, but growth is expected to slow later in the year.

GITEX to launch in Vietnam, unlocking growth in Southeast Asia’s digital economy

GITEX announces debut in Vietnam for October 2026, spotlighting its growing tech economy and boosting Southeast Asia’s digital innovation.

GumGum reports digital ads up to 90% more carbon efficient than industry average

GumGum cuts digital ad emissions by up to 90% versus industry norms, using global sustainability standards and Cedara’s carbon reporting tools.

Related Articles

Popular Categories