On April 18, 2025, iM Bank, formerly known as Daegu Bank, faced significant operational disruptions affecting its mobile app and ATM services. The inconvenience lasted from 2:32 PM to 4:10 PM, during which users reported widespread issues with accessing banking services.
According to KBS, numerous complaints flooded in from customers unable to utilize the bank’s app or ATMs, leading to frustration and confusion among users. Many reported that all functionalities were down, which severely hindered their ability to conduct financial transactions. The bank explained that the root cause of the problem was a surge in external transactions, which overwhelmed their database and caused delays.
As the clock ticked towards the end of the banking day, the situation escalated. Around 3 PM, all deposit and withdrawal services became unavailable, including access to the bank's website and customer service phone lines. Corporate clients needing to process transactions found themselves unable to do so, compounding the frustration for both business and individual customers alike.
A customer identified only as A expressed their discontent during a conversation with a reporter, stating, "I need to transfer money today, but I can’t access the bank’s site, and there’s no explanation about when it will be fixed. I can’t even get through to customer service." This sentiment echoed among many who felt left in the dark as the bank failed to communicate effectively during the outage.
By approximately 4:20 PM, iM Bank announced that restoration efforts were complete, and services were back to normal. A bank representative confirmed, "The issues were due to traffic overload from a high volume of transactions, particularly affecting interbank transfers. However, internal transactions were not impacted, and we have resolved the situation."
Despite the restoration, the lack of prior notification regarding the outage raised concerns about the bank’s communication strategy. With many customers relying on the services for their financial needs, the incident posed a risk to the bank's reputation. Experts warn that such breakdowns can lead to long-term damage to customer trust, especially as iM Bank positions itself as a growing financial institution aiming to transition from a regional to a central banking entity.
The incident has sparked discussions about the importance of robust IT infrastructure and customer communication in the banking sector. As digital banking continues to grow, institutions must ensure they are prepared to handle surges in transaction volumes without compromising service quality.
In light of this event, banks are reminded of the critical nature of maintaining operational integrity and the need for transparent communication with customers during crises. As iM Bank continues to investigate the cause of the outage, customers remain hopeful that such disruptions will be mitigated in the future.
Overall, the April 18 outage serves as a crucial reminder of the vulnerabilities that can exist within digital banking systems and the importance of proactive measures to safeguard against them.
