Background: Patients with signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b) deficiency have impairment in T-cell homeostasis and natural killer (NK) cells which leads to autoimmunity, recurrent infections, and combined immune deficiency. Objective: In this study we characterized the NK cell defect in STAT5b-deficient human NK cells, as well as Stat5b 2/2 mice. Methods: We used multiparametric flow cytometry, functional NK cell assays, microscopy, and a Stat5b 2/2 mouse model to elucidate the effect of impaired and/or absent STAT5b on NK cell development and function. Results: This alteration generated a nonfunctional CD56 bright NK cell subset characterized by low cytokine production. The CD56 dim NK cell subset had decreased expression of perforin and CD16 and a greater frequency of cells expressing markers of immature NK cells. We observed low NK cell numbers and impaired NK cell maturation, suggesting that STAT5b is involved in terminal NK cell maturation in Stat5b 2/2 mice.