Nigerians are expressing growing frustration over the persistent failure of FirstBank’s mobile banking application, which has left many customers stranded and struggling to complete routine financial transactions.
For several months, users of the FirstMobile app have reported frequent outages, login failures, and system downtimes—issues that have not only disrupted personal and business transactions but also raised questions about the bank’s commitment to digital service delivery.
“My bank app hasn’t been working for months,” said one user. “I used to complain at first until I realised I’ve actually been saving more money. Now if someone asks me for money, I just show them the error page and pretend I can’t transfer—meanwhile, I’m smiling inside.”
But for many others, the situation is far from humorous. “@FBN_help my app isn’t coming up, and it’s not funny at all,” another customer wrote on social media. “I literally had to borrow money from a colleague to sort a bill just because your app isn’t working. What’s wrong?”
Another user lamented, “Since yesterday morning my FirstBank app has refused to open. It’s not a network issue because my other bank apps are working fine. What is going on?”
Efforts to contact the bank’s customer service have reportedly yielded little to no response. Some customers who sent emails and SMS to their account officers say they have received no acknowledgment or feedback, deepening concerns over FirstBank’s communication practices during digital disruptions.
Despite being one of Nigeria’s oldest and most respected financial institutions, FirstBank has in recent times come under fire for what many perceive as a sluggish response to digital banking challenges. The bank, which boasts millions of customers across Nigeria and abroad, is yet to issue an official statement addressing the recurring issues with its app.
Financial analysts say the problem, if left unresolved, could affect customer confidence, especially at a time when digital reliability is crucial to financial inclusion and banking convenience.
Customers are now calling on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other regulatory bodies to compel commercial banks to improve digital infrastructure and ensure accountability in service delivery.
Until then, for many FirstBank customers, mobile banking remains a game of chance—one that often ends in frustration, missed payments, and borrowed funds.
