Zenith Bank has disclosed that it is investigating unauthorized access to limited customer information, including email addresses and phone numbers. The bank linked the breach to a broader global attack targeting multiple organizations in an email sent to customers on August 4, 2026.
The bank stated that its banking services and digital channels remain secure and fully operational. Immediately after detecting the breach, Zenith Bank activated its incident response protocols, cybersecurity actions, and remediation efforts.
Customers are urged to remain vigilant against phishing attempts and social engineering attacks. The bank advised against disclosing passwords, PINs, One-Time Passwords (OTPs), or other security credentials through emails, text messages, or phone calls.
Rising Cyber Threats Across Africa
This incident comes during a rise in cybersecurity threats across Africa. According to INTERPOL's African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, artificial intelligence now enables 55% of reported cybercrimes on the continent.
The report, which surveyed 36 African member countries, revealed that cybercrime losses more than doubled from $192 million in 2024 to $484 million in 2025. This reflects a shift toward organized, cross-border operations.
Despite these threats, Nigeria's digital payment fraud losses declined in 2025. According to The Compliance Reckoning: Regulating Financial Services in the Age of AI report, payment fraud losses fell by over 50% to N25.85 billion in 2025 from N52.26 billion in 2024.
Breaches Hit Other Nigerian Institutions
Zenith Bank is not the only Nigerian institution targeted this year. In mid-April 2026, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) disclosed a security breach and temporarily shut its online portal from April 17 to April 20, 2026, for maintenance.
Earlier in 2026, a threat group called ByteToBreach claimed responsibility for cyberattacks targeting Sterling Bank and Remita. The Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) subsequently opened formal investigations into both entities.
Zenith Bank, one of Nigeria's largest lenders by assets, has not yet released its first-half 2026 financial results. However, the bank posted an unaudited pre-tax profit of N360.92 billion for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, up from the corresponding period in 2025.
