When cards and ATMs stop working: bank outages, cyberattacks and blackouts
What to do when card payments, banking apps or ATMs stop working because of an IT outage, a cyberattack or a power cut: what still works, how to prepare and how to avoid the scams that follow.
In short
- Electronic payments can fail for several reasons: a power cut, an IT outage at your bank or a payment processor, a cyberattack. It usually lasts hours, rarely days.
- The simplest protection: some cash at home, cards from two different banks and ideally on different networks (Visa and Mastercard).
- Keep key details on paper: account numbers, phone numbers for your bank, insurer and utilities.
- After any big outage, fake "bank" messages follow. Your bank will never ask for your PIN, password or one-time codes.
In July 2024, a faulty software update froze millions of computers worldwide, taking down systems at banks, airports and stores. In April 2025, during the blackout in Spain and Portugal, card payments and ATMs stopped within minutes and people queued at the few shops taking cash. Electronic payments are very reliable, but they depend on power, internet and IT systems that occasionally fail.
What can stop electronic payments
| Cause | What stops working | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Local power cut | Terminals, ATMs, store internet | As long as the outage |
| IT outage at your bank | Your bank’s cards and app | Hours |
| Payment processor or card network outage | Cards on one network or at certain merchants | Hours |
| Cyberattack on a bank | App, cards, sometimes ATMs | Hours, rarely days |
| Internet or mobile outage | Apps, online payments, some terminals | Hours |
How to prepare
- Cash at home in small bills for a few days of essentials. See cash in an emergency.
- Cards from two different banks. If one has a problem, use the other.
- Different networks: for example one Visa and one Mastercard.
- Carry the physical card, not just your phone. Phones run out of battery; cards don’t.
- Key details on paper: account numbers, phone numbers for your banks, insurer and utilities.
- Keep your tank at least half full and a small supply of food and medicine, so you don’t need to buy anything urgently while payments are down.
- Important bills on autopay or paid early, so you’re not late if the app is down on the due date.
When it happens
- Work out what’s down: just your card, just your bank, or all payments at the store? Try another card.
- Get information from official sources: your bank’s website and official social accounts, the news.
- Don’t panic-withdraw everything from ATMs. Your money isn’t disappearing, and ATM runs cause problems for everyone.
- Spend cash on essentials only.
- Keep receipts and check your statement once things are back: payments are sometimes recorded twice.
Watch out for scams
After any major outage or cyberattack, criminals send messages that look like they’re from your bank: “your account is blocked”, “confirm your details”, “check a suspicious transaction”.
- Your bank will never ask for your PIN, password, security code or one-time codes sent by text.
- Don’t click links in texts or emails. Open your banking app or call the number on the back of your card.
- Don’t install apps at the request of someone calling “from the bank”.
- If you’ve shared details, call your bank immediately and freeze the card.
For the rest of your financial preparedness, see our emergency fund guide and power outage guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is my money safe if my bank has an IT problem?
Generally yes: an IT failure or cyberattack temporarily blocks access but doesn't erase balances, which are kept in multiple copies. Deposits are also insured: up to $250,000 per depositor per bank by the FDIC in the US, a set amount by the FSCS in the UK and €100,000 under EU deposit guarantee schemes (limits can change, so check the current figure).
Will phone payments work when my card doesn't?
It depends on the cause. If the problem is at your bank, neither the card nor the phone wallet using that bank's card will work. If the problem is the store's terminal or internet, no electronic payment will work. A card from another bank helps in the first case; cash helps in both.
How much cash should I keep at home?
Enough for a few days to a week of essentials: food, medicine, fuel. We cover this in our guide to cash in an emergency.
Sources and further reading
Preper is for general education and does not replace instructions from your local authorities or advice from a doctor. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.