Zelle, one of the most widely used peer-to-peer payment platforms in the U.S., experienced a significant outage on Friday, leaving thousands of users unable to send or receive payments through their bank apps. According to Downdetector, the issue spiked with more than 770 reports of outages by early Friday afternoon, prompting concern across financial institutions and users alike.
Third-Party Provider Fiserv Identified as the Source
The problem was traced back to a third-party provider, later identified as payments infrastructure giant Fiserv. The company confirmed the issue, stating, “Earlier today, we experienced an internal issue that temporarily disrupted service. The issue has since been resolved, and we are now working to process the backlog.” Fiserv also emphasized that the disruption was not due to malicious activity.
A Zelle spokesperson acknowledged the service disruption in a statement to multiple outlets, noting,
“We are aware that certain Zelle users at some financial institutions are not able to use Zelle at this time. We are working diligently with our partners to resolve this matter as soon as we can. Zelle users may see transactions marked as ‘payment pending’ in the meantime.”
Though Zelle did not specify which banks were most affected, user complaints on Downdetector suggested issues were widespread, with customers from Truist and Navy Federal Credit Union reporting stuck transactions. One Truist user voiced frustration over a rent payment that had been marked pending since Thursday night, saying,
“I feel like my money is just floating and no one will help with anything or take any accountability!”
Bank of America, one of Zelle’s key partners, confirmed the disruption.
“Earlier today some clients experienced a delay in sending and receiving certain payments,” spokesperson Matthew Card said. “This was a vendor-related issue that affected multiple banks. The issue has been resolved.”
Zelle’s Role in U.S. Banking and Ongoing Recovery
Zelle, owned by Early Warning Services (EWS)—a consortium of major U.S. banks including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo has become a critical tool for fast, secure digital transfers, moving billions of dollars daily between American users via phone number or email.
Although Zelle shut down its standalone app last month, the service continues to function through more than 2,000 financial institutions. The platform’s outage served as a stark reminder of how interconnected digital banking systems are and how reliant users have become on third-party providers.
Alternative Payment Options Available
For users still experiencing issues, alternative platforms like Apple Pay, Cash App, or Venmo may serve as temporary solutions while pending Zelle transactions are cleared.
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