KIGALI, Rwanda — Equity Bank Rwanda has assured customers that their deposits remain secure after detecting and containing what it described as attempted fraudulent banking transactions.
In a public notice issued Sunday, the lender said its internal monitoring systems flagged irregular transaction activity, prompting the immediate activation of security and incident response protocols.
The bank said swift containment measures were implemented in coordination with relevant authorities, allowing most of the suspicious transactions to be reversed within 24 hours.
“Through these actions, the majority of the transactions were reversed successfully within 24 hours of the incident,” the bank said in a statement.
Investigations into the matter are ongoing, with the bank working alongside law enforcement agencies and the National Bank of Rwanda to determine the circumstances surrounding the attempted fraud.
Equity Bank Rwanda said no customer deposits were lost and normal banking operations continue across its branches and digital platforms.
“We wish to reassure our customers and stakeholders that customer deposits and accounts remain safe and secure, and the bank’s operations continue as normal,” the management said.
The lender reiterated its zero-tolerance stance toward financial crime, adding that it continues to strengthen cybersecurity systems, transaction monitoring mechanisms, and internal controls to protect customer assets.
Financial institutions across the region have increasingly invested in automated monitoring systems designed to detect suspicious transactions in real time, part of broader efforts to counter the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial crime.
Equity Bank Rwanda also urged employees, partners, and members of the public to report suspected misconduct through its whistleblowing channels.
Reports can be submitted through the bank’s official whistleblowing platform or by contacting its customer service channels, the bank said.
The lender noted that cyber threats remain a global challenge affecting banks and other institutions, stressing that it will continue cooperating with authorities as investigations progress.
Equity Bank Rwanda is part of the regional Equity Group Holdings, one of East Africa’s largest financial services groups with operations across several countries in the region.
The bank said it remains committed to transparency while reinforcing safeguards to maintain the highest standards of financial security for its customers.
