Chase denies hacking in vanishing balances

A screenshot of a Chase Bank account on an iPhone Monday night. / Screenshot by Steven Musil/CNET

Updated 10:47 p.m. ET

Chase Bank experienced technical difficulties for over an hour Monday night, worrying customers who logged into their accounts and saw their balance at $0 or were unable to get any access to them at all.

A spokesman for the bank said it was strictly an internal technical issue and customers' accounts were not in danger.

"The problems are an issue with the checking account portion of chase.com, nothing to do with mortgage or credit banking. We have a technology problem regarding customers balance information that we are working to resolve," the spokesman to CBS News. "It has nothing to do with cyber threats or hacks. It is an internal issue. We are very sorry to our customers for the inconvenience."

Within two hours, the bank tweeted that the issue was resolved. Customers reported seeing their balances once again.

*UPDATE* We're back to business as usual on Chase.com & Mobile. Apologies again for the trouble & thank you for your patience.

— Chase Support (@ChaseSupport) March 19, 2013

Still, hundreds of Chase users expressed their frustration on Twitter and Facebook. Many reported seeing their account balances listed as "$0" on mobile devices, while others said they got a "System Unavail" message when logged into the bank's website on their computers.

The hacking collective "Anonymous" said they were responsible for the vanishing balances on Twitter, but there is no evidence supporting their claim.

As CNET's Steven Musil notes, the scare was only natural given that the disappearing balances occurred "less than a week after a massive distributed-denial-of-service attack rendered Chase's Web sites useless for many hours." In that case, customers trying to use chase.com's banking tools were greeted with a note that the site was "temporarily down."

[asullivan_]

Where did Anonymous claim responsibility? I see no mention of Chase on either the @Anon_Central or @YourAnonNews Twitter accounts.

[fendferyerself]

what most average Americans do not realize (or do not pay attention to) is the fact that Banks -all banks- who offer online services, online access to your accounts, are NOT RESPONSIBLE for any damage or loss due to hackers or poor security. This is plainly stated in the Agreement/Terms & Services mumbo jumbo that you don't bother to read, continue on to click on 'Agree' and sign up for all that online (oh so convenient) access to your accounts.

Know this: if your account is hacked and all money is withdrawn, the Bank assumes NO responsibility, and you AGREED.

I have all online access to all my bank accounts turned OFF. You have to request this to your bank if you want it, otherwise they leave online access turned 'on'. Even with that, I still don't trust that my accounts cannot be hacked, after all, all the info is on a server somewhere, regardless of whether online access is allowed or not allowed.

I pay bills the old fashioned way, I hvae no autopay on my utilities or credit card bills, I have no one dipping into my account electronically.
I will hold out as long as I can but I realize some day the bank will force me to do online access and I won't be happy. Maybe at that point I will pay cash for everything and have nothing in the bank.

I am quite certain that at some point there is going to be a huge HACK on these Banking systems, and everyone's account balances are going to read: $0 . And the banks will just shrug and say "oops" and "sorry" but "we are not liable, you signed the agreement dissolving us of all responsibility."

Now -- do I believe that banks would just shrug their shoulders and say "oh well" if your account is hacked and all your money withdrawn? No, you are a customer and they want you as a customer. But short of reporting it to the FBI, that is about all the Banks can do. In fact, it is up to YOU to make the police report, not the Bank. The Bank is not going to reimburse you for the money lost, you agreed that they are not to be held responsible.
Trying to retrieve your money, will be up to you, and the federal government. So good luck with that.

[ReasonableVoicesAmongUs]

Anon isn't savvy enough to get into Chase. And for them to take credit is laughable. Those script kiddies just don't get it.

[MsMaucelli]

Money if FICTION, Everyone's DEBTS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN! WHOOP WHOOP Stop paying the bank, they are the DEBTOR, and WE are the CREDITORS. IT IS ALL SMOKE and MIRRORS fraud people! http://disorderlyhappiness.com/2013/03/06/oppt-is-not-unrebutted/

[jaygonus]

Scumbags. Banks are trying to outright rob people in Cyprus. Now this. I wouldn't be surprised if these thieves deliberately did this to take their customer's money.

[fpleti2]

Chase is really a four letter word in banking.

[doncheech164]

is this chase branch in cyprus?

[nk534]

If you're a Chase customer, get smart and drop this bank before your money is confiscated to pay for the National Debt!

[nojoy01]

"We have a technology problem regarding customers balance information that we are working to resolve,"
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This statement translates as A. "We don't know *** is going on." B."All of those ones & zeroes thingies seem to be confused." C "Our technology problem is how the hell are we going to get out of dodge before the depositors find out their money is gone. or D."DamifIno, but I've got to say something."

[fendferyerself]

lol
sad but true
and don't you love all these official mumbo jumbo "statements" they always come out with... thinking this will appease everyone and no one will worry. Ahhhhh... right.