Complaints are pouring in from some customers whose financial services have been interrupted due to banking apps being updated for enhanced security.

According to foreign media and the banking industry on the 8th, it was reported that some customers with smartphones from before 2021 experienced difficulties using mobile banking when Hanmi Bank’s application was recently updated. A Hanmi Bank representative stated, “The update was made to strengthen the mobile banking system, and it seems customers with older smartphones experienced inconvenience,” adding, “Updating the firewall is inevitable to avoid hacking and other security risks.”

In the U.S., hacking incidents targeting mobile banking users have become frequent, prompting banks to put significant effort into strengthening their firewalls. A survey found that 1 in 10 mobile banking users are exposed to the risk of new malware, with most users expressing concerns about personal information being hacked. There are also numerous cases where mobile banking services are disrupted without a clear cause.

In April, more than 7,000 Chase Bank app users were unable to access online or mobile banking. In June, over 7,000 customers using HSBC Bank in the U.K. faced similar difficulties.

The most significant issue is that customers who have not upgraded their smartphones for a long time may find that the updated mobile app is incompatible with their smartphone’s operating system (OS). In fact, in March, Bank of Ireland notified its customers that if they didn’t upgrade their OS to Android 11 or higher, mobile banking would no longer be supported after the release of its app with additional security patches.

According to Bank of Ireland, Apple smartphone users need iOS 15 or higher to use the bank’s mobile banking app. Android 11 was first released in September 2020, and Apple’s iOS 15 was released in September 2021.

Bank of Ireland warned, “The app will still function in the short term, but as more features are added, customers with older smartphones will no longer be able to use mobile banking.” The bank emphasized that “all customers must regularly update to the latest operating systems to avoid potential vulnerabilities.”



<Hongyong Park>