Updated: GTBank moves to new banking application system

Zenith Bank customers and those depending on them have been through hell over the last one week. Why? The bank was migrating to a new system or carrying out some sort of upgrade. Today, I got an email from GTBank providing notice that they will be transiting to a “robust suite of core banking application systems” this week.

Alarms went off in my head immediately. Memories of the hell that Zenith Bank has put customers through is still fresh in my head. Some Zenith Bank transactions are still not going through till today. One can only hope that GTBank will handle this transition better than how the other bank handled theirs. Otherwise….

So, here is what GTBank says (or more accurately my understanding of what the email said):

1. All GTBank branches will close at 12 noon on Friday the 11th of October. If you need to get to the bank on Friday, do so early. Every GTBank branch nationwide will be shut down at noon on Friday. They will reopen to the public at 9am on Monday. During the period that branches are shut, you will be able to do “Transfers, Bill Payment, Airtime and Data purchase” on all GTBank digital platforms. In other words, online banking, apps, and USSD will continue to work for those transactions during that period.
2. However, from 10p.m on Sunday, 13th of October to 9am on Monday, 14th of October 2024, all GTBank digital banking systems will be unavailable. Send all the money you want to send before that period. Buy airtime and buy your data o. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

And then pray that everything goes according to the outlined plan. Pray that 11 hours of downtime does not become 18 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, or worse.

For your convenience, I reproduce below the full content of the email sent out by GTBank:

TRANSITION TO A ROBUST SUITE OF CORE BANKING APPLICATION SYSTEMS

Dear Customer,

As part of our commitment to bringing meaningful improvements to the lives of our customers by leveraging technology, we will begin the transition from our current Core Banking Application to a new and robust suite of Finacle Core Banking Application Systems on Friday, 11th of October 2024.

During this period, we kindly ask you to bear with us as all our branches nationwide will close early to customers at 12:00 p.m on Friday, October 11th and reopen at 9:00 a.m on Monday, October 14th. Additionally, there will be service disruptions on our digital banking channels for 11 hours, specifically between 10:00 p.m on Sunday, October 13th and 9:00 a.m on Monday, October 14th.

Please see below the outline of the period when there will be service disruptions per banking channel:

All Branches Nationwide

Will close at 12.00 p.m Friday, 11th of October to reopen 9.00 a.m Monday, 14th of October 2024.

Please note that our digital channels will still be available for your banking needs. However, service will be limited to Transfers, Bill Payment, Airtime and Data purchase.

All Banking Channels

Unavailable from 10:00 p.m Sunday, 13th of October to 9:00 am Monday, 14th of October 2024.

Overall, this transition will allow us drive digital transformation to achieve insights-driven and frictionless interactions at all our Customer Touchpoints; enhancing the quality of customer experience we can deliver to you. We will keep you updated on our progress as we work towards making your banking experience simpler.

We apologize for every inconvenience this may cause and ask for your understanding.

That is the low down. If you are a GTBank customer, carry out any urgent transactions before 10pm on Sunday. If possible, move any spending funds you might need over the following few days to another bank account or wallet that you can access it from, just in case something goes wrong and there is a delay in restoration of digital services.

Monday 14th of October: The transition was not completed as scheduled by GTBank. For most of the 14th, GTBank’s digital channels were not working.

The delay lasted till 5.19pm when the bank sent an email notification round to say that they have successfully transitioned and their branches would be open till 6pm to serve customers. Digital channels also became available immediately.

Author: Mister Mobility

Master storyteller and founder of Mobility Nigeria, Mister Mobility, has used and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.

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