Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Zenith Bank Plc, one of Nigeria's largest financial institutions, has confirmed that hackers breached its database and gained access to limited customer information, including email addresses and phone numbers, in what the bank described as part of a broader global cyberattack targeting organisations across multiple sectors. The bank disclosed the incident in an email sent to customers on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, assuring them that no sensitive banking information, including passwords, Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), or One-Time Passwords (OTPs), was compromised.
The bank said the attackers accessed limited customer information during a cyberattack that forms part of a wider global attack on organisations across different sectors. Zenith Bank stressed that the incident involved only limited customer information and that its banking services and digital channels remain secure and fully operational. The lender said it is investigating the attack, noting that its incident response protocols and other cybersecurity measures were immediately activated after the breach was discovered. "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.
The breach is the latest cyber incident involving a Nigerian financial institution and comes months after the Central Bank of Nigeria warned the public about increasing cyberattack attempts by fraudsters seeking to gain access to personal and financial information. The apex bank said cybercriminals were circulating fraudulent emails and messages falsely claiming to originate from the CBN in an attempt to deceive members of the public. According to the financial regulator, the fake communications typically urge recipients to click malicious links while spreading false information about the bank's leadership, licensing activities, and policy decisions to steal personal information.
Zenith Bank's disclosure comes amid a broader rise in cybersecurity incidents across Africa, with recent research suggesting that artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks faster, more sophisticated, and harder to detect. According to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, AI is now enabling 55 per cent of reported cybercrimes across the continent, allowing criminal networks to automate phishing campaigns, identity theft, and other digital attacks at scale. The report, which surveyed 36 African member countries, said cybercrime losses across Africa more than doubled from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025, reflecting a shift from isolated cyber incidents to increasingly organised and cross-border cyber operations.
The Zenith Bank breach also comes after the Corporate Affairs Commission disclosed a security breach involving unauthorised access to parts of its systems in mid-April 2026, advising users to update their login credentials as a precaution. The agency subsequently shut down its online portal temporarily for scheduled maintenance and security upgrades.
In its email to customers, Zenith Bank said it activated its incident response protocols immediately after detecting the breach and has continued its cybersecurity response while maintaining normal banking operations. The bank urged customers to be vigilant against phishing attempts and other social engineering attacks that may arise following the incident. "We remain committed to safeguarding our customers' information and appreciate your continued trust and confidence," the bank said. For enquiries or assistance, customers are advised to contact Zenith Direct via phone numbers 0700-936-4842265, +234-201-278-7000, 0904-085-7000, or email zenithdirect@zenithbank.com.
The bank reaffirmed its commitment to protecting customer information and thanked customers for their continued trust, adding that investigations into the incident are ongoing. As one of Nigeria's leading financial institutions, the breach underscores the growing cybersecurity threats facing the country's financial sector, as banks continue to strengthen their digital defences against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals while urging customers to remain vigilant against phishing and other online scams.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments