NBP claims its customer and clients are safe from any cyber attacks

Telenor Microfinance Bank  security controls completely intact amid cyber-attack wave

KARACHI:  The customers and clients of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) are safe from any vulnerability of recent cyber attacks and the customers are duly protected from all potential loss.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, NBP’s customer data was fully secured as per local and international standards.

The bank was also working in close coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan for protecting the data of its clients and customers in future too, it added.

The clarification came after a racket of international professional hackers reportedly  stole thousands of customers’ data of Pakistani commercial banks and sold it into Poland, Estonia and some other countries, raising fears that those making banking transactions from abroad through credit cards and ATMs would be deprived of their hard-earned money.

Pakistan has also decided to take up the issue with all those international channels as Visa card was also misused for hacking the data of thousands of customers.

The government convened an emergency meeting here where the Governor SBP Tariq Bajwa also participated in which it was decided that all precautionary measures would be taken to avoid this financial fraud as early as possible.

One top official of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) confirmed to The News on Tuesday that after surfacing of financial scam into the Islamic bank, the central bank gave directives to all banks to enhance due diligence to protect customers.

The SBP has divided all banks operating in Pakistan into three main categories as there are banks including the largest commercial bank of the country where all safety protocols were in place and there was nothing to worry about.

In the second category of banks, information technology was in place, but these banks were asked to verify strength of their systems so they were put into risk-prone category. All such banks have suspended their operations from abroad and they advised their customers to inform the banks prior to their departure if they wanted to use their credit cards and ATM cards in foreign countries.

Telenor MicroFinance Bank: In view of the latest wave of cyber-attacks that has shocked the local banking system, Telenor Microfinance Bank has comprehensively reviewed and tested its security systems to find that no attempt was made at breaching the Bank’s systems.

The Bank thus encourages customers to use its products and services confidently and freely across Pakistan. The controls are under strict 24/7 check and are robust enough to thwart any hacking attempt. And, in case any unusual activity is detected, customers will be intimated in time.

“We have run comprehensive security system checks and found that everything is safe and in total control,” said Shahid Mustafa, President & CEO, Telenor Microfinance Bank. “All customers can use our products and services free from fear as we are working round-the-clock to ensure safe banking nationwide.”

The State Bank of Pakistan too, in a recent press release, has categorically rejected the rumors that data of most banks has been hacked. Instead, the SBP says, except for one bank, there is no evidence to this effect provided to SBP by any law enforcement agency.

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