Black Friday in South Africa took a turn for the worse for many FNB customers as the bank's app and website experienced widespread outages. The timing couldn't have been worse, coinciding with both Black Friday and payday for a large segment of the population.
Reports of issues began flooding in early Friday morning, with Downdetector showing a significant spike in FNB-related complaints around 9:00 AM. Users reported difficulties accessing the app, slow website loading times, and an inability to complete transactions.
"The website goes nowhere," one frustrated user told Stuff. Similar experiences were echoed across social media, with customers expressing their frustration and disappointment. Many were unable to take advantage of Black Friday deals due to the outage.
What Caused the FNB Outage?
While the exact cause remains unconfirmed, the surge in online activity associated with Black Friday shopping is the most likely culprit. The increased demand appears to have overwhelmed FNB's systems, leading to the widespread disruptions.
FNB has acknowledged the issues and issued an apology to its customers, advising them to try again later. However, this provided little comfort to those eager to snag Black Friday bargains.
Impact on Black Friday Shopping
The FNB outage undoubtedly impacted Black Friday sales, potentially costing both consumers and retailers. Customers were unable to make purchases, and retailers may have missed out on sales opportunities. The incident highlights the importance of robust and reliable banking infrastructure, especially during peak shopping periods.
- 78% of reported errors related to the FNB app
- 16% experienced issues with online banking
The situation is developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Customers are advised to monitor FNB's social media channels for the latest news.