Major ANZ Banking Outage Leaves Thousands Unable to Access Accounts

Thousands of Australians were locked out of their bank accounts on October 21, 2025. A major outage crippled ANZ’s mobile app and internet banking platforms. Customers could not log in, transfer money, or check their balances for hours.

The disruption caused widespread frustration and highlighted reliance on digital banking services. According to Reuters, the incident began around 12:30 PM local time. It followed a separate, broader internet outage that had already disrupted many online services.

Technical Breakdown and Customer Impact

ANZ’s official Digital Service Status page confirmed a severe issue. The problem was listed as impacting “Payment Processing and Intra-Day Reporting.” This led to significant delays in payment transactions and balance updates for users.

The ANZ app displayed a clear message of apology to customers. It stated the service was unavailable and that teams were working on a fix. Many customers took to social media to report the issues and seek assistance.

Connection to Broader Internet Disruption

This banking service disruption occurred in the wake of a separate, large-scale internet outage. That earlier outage was linked to a problem with Amazon Web Services (AWS). It affected popular global platforms like Snapchat and Fortnite.

While the AWS issue was resolved, the ANZ system remained unstable. This suggests the bank’s systems were uniquely impacted or slower to recover. The event underscores the interconnected nature of modern digital infrastructure.

The ANZ banking outage serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of our digital financial systems. Such widespread service failures can have immediate consequences for daily life and commerce.

Info at your fingertips

What caused the ANZ banking outage?

The exact technical root cause has not been publicly detailed by ANZ. It occurred following a resolved outage with Amazon Web Services that affected many other online platforms.

How long did the ANZ app outage last?

The service disruption began around 12:30 PM on October 21. Full service restoration times were not immediately provided, with updates promised throughout the day.

Were customer funds safe during the outage?

Yes. Bank outages typically relate to access and processing systems, not the security of accounts themselves. Customer deposits remain protected.

What should customers do if they need to bank during an outage?

Customers can try using telephone banking services if operational. Visiting a branch in person is another alternative for urgent transactions.

Which other services were affected by the earlier AWS issue?

The broader AWS outage impacted a range of apps and platforms. This included services like Snapchat, Afterpay, and the online game Fortnite.

Trusted Sources

Reuters, Australian Associated Press, ANZ Bank Digital Service Status.