CIMB Bank Starts Returning Money Taken by Unauthorized Transfers

Digital banking users in the Philippines got some relief over the weekend as CIMB Bank announced it has started refunding customers affected by unauthorized fund transfers. The update came early Sunday, April 27, through the bank’s official Facebook page.

According to CIMB, customers who noticed strange or unsolicited transactions in their accounts may now see reversed amounts. The bank mentioned that the process has already begun and that affected clients should monitor their accounts for updates.

This action follows the bank’s earlier confirmation that a number of customers had reported suspicious withdrawals. While the number of affected users wasn’t disclosed, CIMB made it clear that the issue was being treated seriously.

To calm worried account holders, CIMB emphasized that their core banking systems and customer data remain safe. The bank reassured the public that their security infrastructure has not been breached, and no sensitive customer information was compromised.

The bank also said that full communication will follow once all the reversals have been completed. Meanwhile, customers who still have concerns were advised to reach out through the ‘Help Center’ in the CIMB app or via their official website.

CIMB Bank Philippines operates entirely online and is a part of CIMB Group Holdings Berhad, a major player in Southeast Asia’s banking industry. The bank launched in the Philippines in 2018 and has since been building a solid presence in the country’s fast-growing digital banking space.

As cyber threats become more common in today’s digital-first financial environment, incidents like this highlight the need for constant vigilance, both from banks and their users. Still, it’s encouraging to see a bank respond promptly and take steps to regain customer trust.