Members of credit unions across New Mexico are experiencing limited access to their accounts after a cooling‑system failure at an out‑of‑state data center crippled Sharetec, the software provider that powers many local credit unions. The outage began on Sept. 15 and has forced several institutions to revert to paper‑based transactions.
Manual operations replace digital systems
Everyone’s Federal Credit Union in Tucumcari confirmed that staff are processing transactions with “pencil and paper,” a method reminiscent of the 1950s. The credit union said it is working with each member individually to address the disruption, especially for those who rely on direct deposit and cash withdrawals.
Sharetec’s response
Sharetec has not provided a direct comment to reporters. When callers dial the company’s phone number, they are directed to a voicemail that reads, “Thank you for calling Sharetec, we are currently aware of connectivity issues and our teams are actively working to resolve them as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding and know that we are doing everything we can to restore connectivity as quickly as possible.” The company’s lack of a live response has left many credit unions awaiting further updates.
No evidence of a data breach
Credit unions statewide have emphasized that, to date, the incident has not been identified as a data breach. The outage appears to be a technical failure rather than a security compromise, and regulators have not reported any unauthorized access to member information.
Impact on members
Members report a range of issues, from delayed access to online banking portals to temporary holds on cash withdrawals. Some have been unable to receive direct deposits on schedule, prompting concerns for those who depend on timely paycheck delivery.
Restoration efforts
Sharetec’s technical teams are reportedly working to restore cooling to the data center and bring systems back online. While some credit unions have begun to see partial service restoration, others remain uncertain when full functionality will return. The company has not disclosed a timeline for complete recovery.
What members can do
Credit unions advise members to stay in contact with their local branches for the latest updates. In the meantime, members are encouraged to use alternative methods such as ATMs, phone banking, or in‑person visits for essential transactions.
As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on restoring reliable service while safeguarding member data. The incident underscores the importance of robust backup plans for financial institutions that rely on third‑party technology providers.
Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.
