Standard Chartered has announced a scheduled system maintenance that will affect all credit card services across Pakistan. The temporary service disruption will begin on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 7:00 PM and will continue until Sunday, July 27, 2025, at 5:00 AM.
Customers received an official message from the bank stating:
“Dear Client, Credit Card Services will be unavailable starting 26 July 2025 from 7:00 PM till 27 July 2025 at 5:00 AM due to system maintenance. Inconvenience regretted.”
During this time, all credit card-related features—including transactions, balance checks, online payments, and statement access—will be temporarily unavailable. Customers are advised to make any necessary transactions in advance.
The Purpose Behind the Scheduled Downtime
This temporary unavailability is part of routine maintenance aimed at enhancing the bank’s digital infrastructure. Scheduled maintenance like this helps improve service reliability, apply necessary software updates, strengthen cybersecurity, and ensure systems run smoothly during peak usage hours.
Such updates are planned during nighttime hours to avoid major disruptions to customers and typically target low-traffic periods to minimize inconvenience.
This Isn’t Unique to Standard Chartered
System maintenance has become a common practice among major banks operating in Pakistan and globally. Earlier this month, Standard Chartered conducted a similar update in India, during which digital services were suspended overnight.
Other banks in Pakistan, such as Silkbank, have also issued notifications regarding temporary service outages affecting mobile banking, internet banking, and debit card services. These steps are essential for improving system performance and customer data security.
What Customers Need to Do
If you are a Standard Chartered credit cardholder, it is recommended to complete any urgent tasks—such as online purchases, bill payments, hotel bookings, or subscriptions—before 7:00 PM on July 26, 2025.
After that point, credit card usage, including both online and point-of-sale transactions, will not be functional until services resume at 5:00 AM the next morning.
Key Services Affected During This Period
- Credit card transactions (in-store and online)
- Access to online statements and transaction history
- Online card payments and settings
- Mobile app and website credit card features
- Customer service support for card-related queries
This temporary pause ensures that once services resume, customers will benefit from an even more secure and seamless digital banking experience.
Why Do Banks Perform Scheduled Maintenance?
As digital banking becomes more advanced, banks must regularly update their systems to prevent vulnerabilities, reduce downtime risks, and accommodate increasing customer demand.
Scheduled maintenance enables:
- Faster and more reliable performance
- Up-to-date security patches
- Stable and scalable infrastructure
- Smooth functioning during peak load times
- Prevention of larger, unexpected outages
These efforts are often invisible to users—but they play a major role in the reliability of online and mobile banking platforms.
A Small Pause for Long-Term Gains
Though inconvenient in the short term, the downtime ensures your banking experience remains secure, efficient, and uninterrupted in the long run. By taking a few simple steps to plan around this temporary window, you can avoid disruptions to your daily financial tasks.
Customers seeking assistance or clarification are encouraged to reach out to Standard Chartered’s support team before the downtime begins.
Stay informed and plan ahead—services will be back before your Sunday morning starts.
