Patelco Outage: Understanding the Impact and Recovery Process

The Patelco outage was a significant disruption that affected thousands of members. The outage lasted for several hours.

During this time, online banking and mobile banking services were unavailable. Members were unable to access their accounts or conduct transactions.

The cause of the outage was attributed to a technical issue with Patelco's core system. This issue was related to a software update that was being implemented at the time.

Members were advised to check the Patelco website and social media channels for updates on the status of the outage.

On June 29, Patelco Credit Union experienced a serious security breach that forced them to shut down several important banking systems. This included transfers, direct deposits, balance inquiries, payments, and even debit and credit card transactions, which only partly worked.

Customers had trouble accessing their money, and many complained on social media about not being able to use ATMs or debit cards. Patelco suggested customers use ATMs in their larger Co-Op network, which has over 30,000 shared branch ATMs across the U.S.

The CEO and President, Erin Mendez, emailed customers to explain the situation and apologize for the inconvenience. She assured them that their teams were working around the clock with top-tier cybersecurity experts to assess the situation and restore service.

Here are the systems that were initially unavailable:

Debit and credit card transactions only partly worked, which caused problems for customers trying to withdraw money or make purchases.

The Patelco outage had a significant impact on its members. Over 1 million members were affected by the outage, which lasted for several days.

Many members reported being unable to access their accounts online or through the mobile app. This caused inconvenience and frustration for those who relied on Patelco for their financial needs.

Patelco's customer service team received a high volume of calls and messages during the outage. Members were seeking assistance with issues such as account access and transactions.

The outage also affected Patelco's ATM network, with many members reporting issues with card transactions. This was a particular concern for those who rely on ATMs for their daily banking needs.

Patelco has since taken steps to improve its systems and prevent similar outages in the future.

Patelco has made significant progress in restoring its services after the ransomware attack. Most banking functions are now available, including online and mobile app banking.

The credit union has also rolled out updates to restore other services, such as Zelle, debit and credit card payments, direct deposit, and more. These functions were working as of Monday.

Customers can now access these services without worrying about most fees, at least for the next two months. Patelco has promised to remove overdraft, late loan, and credit card fees in July and August.

If you're still experiencing issues, don't worry, Patelco has set up a hotline to help you resolve problems like fees, late payments, or delayed transactions. You can call 1-800-358-8228 (extension 3030) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays.

Patelco is also taking steps to protect your credit score, and will write letters on behalf of customers whose credit scores might be affected by late payments on bills.