NAB goes dark again! Here’s how to stay ahead of the next outage

It happened again—another day, another NAB internet banking outage, and customers weren’t holding back their frustration.

For many, logging in to manage their money should be simple—but Wednesday proved anything but.

Even loyal customers found themselves cut off, forced to confront an increasingly unreliable digital banking system.

The bank confirmed on Wednesday that its digital services, including internet banking and the NAB app, were experiencing issues, with their tech team working to resolve them 'as soon as possible.'

While services were eventually restored, the outage sparked fresh criticism about NAB’s digital reliability and recurring problems.

Customers attempting to access accounts online were greeted with messages indicating the service was unavailable—a sight many knew all too well.

NAB followed its now-familiar response pattern, apologising for the inconvenience and asking customers for patience while services were restored.

A spokesperson later confirmed mobile banking was restored first, followed by work to resolve remaining internet banking issues.

Recurring Outages Are Testing Patience

This latest disruption was not an isolated incident.

Earlier in 2024, NAB experienced a major outage that affected millions of its roughly 10 million customers.

Customer complaints reveal a recurring pattern of issues testing patience, from login failures to problems with transfers and account balances.

'For several days, NAB internet banking has not allowed me to log in,' wrote one customer. 'How long does an 'outage' have to last?!'

Another reported being unable to access their account for multiple days, while others struggled with basic functions like checking balances.

The timing is particularly challenging as bank branches continue to close across Australia, leaving older customers increasingly reliant on digital banking services.

The Seniors Squeeze

For many older Australians, outages represent more than inconvenience—they can be isolating and stressful when online banking is the primary way to manage finances.

This comment resonated widely, highlighting the frustration of seeing banks post billions in profits while essential services falter.

How to Prepare During Outages

Customers do have rights if an outage causes direct financial loss, such as missed payments resulting in fees.

Document any costs and contact your bank's customer service team to request compensation if necessary.

NAB publishes quarterly statistics about service availability, including outage lengths and impacts, offering transparency though many would prefer fewer reports and more reliability.

'Billions in profit and I can't pay a bill,' one exasperated customer wrote, capturing the disconnect between profits and service quality.

The Bigger Picture

As banks push more customers online while closing branches and reducing staff, reliable digital infrastructure has become essential—particularly for older Australians with fewer alternatives.

The solution extends beyond technical fixes; it requires recognising that dependable digital banking is fundamental infrastructure for modern life.

If NAB’s latest outage has left you frustrated, you’re not alone—other banks have faced similar widespread disruptions that caught customers off guard.

Understanding how these outages unfold and how banks respond can help you prepare and protect your finances in the future.

For another real-life example of a major service disruption, check out this story highlighting the chaos and customer reaction.

Read more: Panic erupts as major bank faces widespread service disruption

Have you been caught out by a banking outage recently, and what strategies did you use to stay on top of your finances?