US Bank hit with DDOS

A denial-of-service attack largely blocked access to U.S. Bancorp's consumer website for much of the day, USBank.com, in the latest cyberattack on a big bank in the past week.

Customers were unable to access the site as early as 9:45 a.m. Central Time Wednesday. At midday, access remained intermittent.

The "unusual and coordinated high-traffic volume" on U.S. Bank's site is related to attacks on other bank websites, including Tuesday's attack on the website of Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) spokesman Tom Joyce said.

"The issues are related to unusual and coordinated high traffic volume that is designed to slow down the system, very similar to what other banks have experienced in the past week," Joyce said. "We're working very hard to restore full connectivity today."

While customers will have trouble accessing the website or using mobile banking apps, Joyce said customer data and funds are not at risk. He said customers with urgent banking needs should visit a branch or call 1-800-USBANKS.

The bank is working closely with federal law enforcement to resolve the issue, Joyce said. The bank expects the attack will last about eight hours, he said.

The incident is suspected to be linked to a group, called the "cyber fighters of Izz ad-din Al qassam" that also claimed responsibility for similar denial-of-service attacks on Wells Fargo, Bank of America and J.P. Morgan Chase.

In a statement, the group said that it would attack PNC Bank next, on Sept. 27.