📉 Massive outage paralyzes millions of payments
On Saturday August 30, 2025, an unprecedented blackout hit the Crédit Mutuel, CIC and Monabanq networks.
From around 5.20 pm to 7.30 pm, bankcard payments and withdrawals became impossible for millions of customers.
In the middle of the weekend, the impact was immediate:
- interminable queues in supermarkets,
- abandoned baskets at the checkout,
- retailers forced to refuse sales,
- customers frustrated or humiliated by "refused payments" when their balance was sufficient.
The banking group described the incident as " unprecedented in its duration and scale ". The cause: a technical failure on its authorization servers. No cyber-attack, but an internal bug that blocked the entire payment chain.
Good news for customers: rejected transactions will not be debited. But the damage has been done: this episode has highlighted the extreme dependence of retailers on a single payment method.
⚡ A stark reminder of the fragility of classic VSEs
In France, over 70% of in-store payments are now made by contactless card. For many retailers, the electronic payment terminal (TPE) is the only means of payment.
Result:
- a national breakdown like that of Crédit Mutuel & CIC,
- or even a local failure (network, down terminal, internet outage),
... can paralyze an entire business.
A restaurant owner who can no longer cash in on a Saturday evening, or a craftsman at a trade show or festival who can't attend without an Eftposter: these are all lost sales, a damaged image and customers who don't come back.
This episode shows that business continuity must become a reflex, even for small businesses.
📲 SoftPOS: transforming a smartphone into a payment terminal
In the face of these risks, one solution is gaining ground: the SoftPOS (Software Point of Sale).
👉 The principle: a simple NFC-equipped Android smartphone or tablet becomes a complete payment terminal thanks to a secure application.
How does it work?
- The merchant enters the amount on the app.
- Customers bring their bankcard or smartphone (Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.) up to the merchant's phone.
- For payments over the contactless limit (€50), the PIN code is entered directly on the smartphone's touch screen ("PIN on Glass" technology).
Download the app >> HERE
The benefits of SoftPOS
- Economical: no need to buy or rent a terminal, the merchant's own device is all you need.
- Flexible and mobile: perfect for freelancers, food trucks, craftsmen, festivals, cabs or associations.
- Ultra-fast deployment: download the app, create an account, and off you go.
- Maximum security: PCI certification, transaction encryption, MPoC/SPoC standards, strong authentication.
- Immediate Plan B: in the event of failure of the Eftpos terminal or associated banking network, the merchant retains an alternative means of payment.
Limits to be aware of
- Works mainly on Android NFC (iPhone not widely supported today).
- Not always the same functions as an EFTPOS terminal (e.g., direct integration with the cash register, paper printing).
- Commission charges can vary depending on the service provider, and are sometimes higher than for a conventional VSE.
🚀 SoftPOS + TPE = a hybrid, resilient strategy
The giant blackout at the end of August was a wake-up call. Merchants can no longer be satisfied with a single payment channel.
👉 The real solution is a hybrid strategy:
- Classic VSE for boutiques or large volumes.
- SoftPOS mobile as a Plan B or for mobile payment.
- Link or QR Code for payment for remote sales.
With this approach, even if a banking infrastructure fails, business continues and the customer experience remains seamless.
Conclusion
The Crédit Mutuel & CIC incident demonstrated the vulnerability of traditional payments.
For merchants, SoftPOS is no longer a gadget option: it's a tool for resilience, flexibility and sometimes even savings.
The next breakdown will come one day - but only those who have adopted a multi-channel strategy will be able to say:
"Here, you can always pay."
Who we are
Easytransac is a French fintech specializing in innovative payment solutions.
For over 10 years, we have been helping festivals, concert halls, associations, retailers and businesses to modernize their payment processes.
Our mission: to make payment simple, mobile and accessible to all.
With our latest-generation VSE solutions , EasyPOS (cash register software), EasyFlow (free cash register), EasyBank (cashless recharges) and now the SoftPOSwe offer professionals a complete platform for CB, Apple Pay, Google Pay, cashless cards and luncheon vouchers - securely and cost-effectively.
🎯 +60,000 customers already trust us to make their day-to-day cash flow more fluid.
Got a project in mind? Contact us here.
