Zenith Bank Plc has confirmed that hackers gained unauthorised access to a limited amount of customer information, including email addresses and phone numbers, as part of a wider global cyberattack targeting organisations across different sectors. The bank, in a notice issued to customers on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, assured that sensitive banking details, customer funds, passwords and transaction systems were not affected.
The lender said it immediately activated its cybersecurity response measures after detecting the breach and commenced investigations into the incident. Zenith Bank urged customers to remain vigilant against phishing emails, text messages and fraudulent calls, warning them not to disclose their passwords, PINs or One-Time Passwords to anyone.
The breach comes amid rising cyber threats against Nigeria’s financial sector, with several banks reporting security incidents in recent months. Industry data indicates that cybercriminal activities are increasing in scale and sophistication, with digital payment fraud losses reaching billions of naira and financial institutions facing growing attacks targeting customer data and online banking platforms.
While Zenith Bank maintained that its banking services and digital channels remain secure, the incident has renewed concerns over cybersecurity preparedness in Nigeria’s expanding digital economy. Regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria, have intensified efforts to strengthen cybersecurity rules, improve breach reporting and compel financial institutions to adopt stronger protection measures against evolving cyber threats.