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Version 11 Version 12
NatWest branches open early to deal with glitch NatWest branches open early to deal with glitch
(about 7 hours later)
Around 1,000 NatWest branches are to open at 08:00 BST to help customers unable to access their accounts because of a glitch. Around 1,000 NatWest branches are to open at 08:00 BST to help customers who are unable to access their accounts because of technical problems.
A large number of NatWest customers, along with others with RBS and Ulster Bank accounts, have been unable to access online services. NatWest said it had failed overnight to solve issues that meant some customers could not access online accounts.
Technical issues also meant that some balances were not updated with overnight payments. "Unfortunately we are once again experiencing technical issues with our systems," NatWest said on Friday.
As well as some NatWest customers, others with RBS and Ulster Bank accounts have also been affected.
NatWest and Ulster Bank are part of the RBS group.
RBS apologised and said customers would not be left out of pocket.RBS apologised and said customers would not be left out of pocket.
NatWest and Ulster Bank are part of RBS. href="http://www.natwest.com/personal.ashx" >In a statement on the NatWest website on Friday morning the bank said: "Unfortunately we are once again experiencing technical issues with our systems and account balances have not updated properly overnight.
"This means where money has gone into a customer's account, there may be a delay in it appearing on their balance.
"We can assure our customers that this problem is strictly of a technical nature and we continue to work hard to resolve this."
Some branches had stayed open late on Thursday to help customers on their way home and staff continued to work through the night.Some branches had stayed open late on Thursday to help customers on their way home and staff continued to work through the night.
href="http://www.natwest.com/personal.ashx" >In an update on its website, NatWest said many customers could now view their account balances online but not all of them. Earlier, NatWest confirmed that a number of business accounts had also been affected.
"We recognise this has caused significant inconvenience for our customers and we continue to work to resolve these issues and restore a full service," it said. Emergency cash
Earlier, the banking group confirmed that a number of business accounts had also been affected.
One small business owner told the BBC that the electronic system to pay staff was not working.One small business owner told the BBC that the electronic system to pay staff was not working.
He said that, while the bank's business service centre had put a note on his account to allow him access to emergency cash, there were no communications within the bank as staff in his branch had no record of it and the note was having to be faxed over.He said that, while the bank's business service centre had put a note on his account to allow him access to emergency cash, there were no communications within the bank as staff in his branch had no record of it and the note was having to be faxed over.
Many customers have taken to Twitter reporting that they have not been paid and expressing fears that the problem would not be fixed before the weekend.Many customers have taken to Twitter reporting that they have not been paid and expressing fears that the problem would not be fixed before the weekend.
NatWest has 7.5 million personal banking customers.NatWest has 7.5 million personal banking customers.
The bank did not say how many people had been affected across the group, but Ulster Bank, which along with NatWest is also part of the RBS group, said 100,000 of its customers had been affected by "a major technical issue".The bank did not say how many people had been affected across the group, but Ulster Bank, which along with NatWest is also part of the RBS group, said 100,000 of its customers had been affected by "a major technical issue".
"We are working hard to minimise the impact and will ensure that those who are affected do not suffer any financial loss," Ulster Bank said in a statement."We are working hard to minimise the impact and will ensure that those who are affected do not suffer any financial loss," Ulster Bank said in a statement.
ApologyApology
Bob Spearman from Petworth told the BBC his weekly tax credit payment had not been paid into his NatWest account.Bob Spearman from Petworth told the BBC his weekly tax credit payment had not been paid into his NatWest account.
"We, like many other low-income families live from week to week and the Child Tax Credit weekly payment is a lifeline on which we rely," he said."We, like many other low-income families live from week to week and the Child Tax Credit weekly payment is a lifeline on which we rely," he said.
Customers have also reported problems accessing their online accounts for the past 24 hours.Customers have also reported problems accessing their online accounts for the past 24 hours.
A message posted from the NatWest Help Twitter account said: "This is an unacceptable inconvenience for our customers for which we apologise."A message posted from the NatWest Help Twitter account said: "This is an unacceptable inconvenience for our customers for which we apologise."
A spokeswoman for UK Payments Council, which oversees payments strategy, said that the problem did not appear to have affected any other banks.A spokeswoman for UK Payments Council, which oversees payments strategy, said that the problem did not appear to have affected any other banks.
However, people expecting payments from individuals or businesses which banked with NatWest could encounter problems.However, people expecting payments from individuals or businesses which banked with NatWest could encounter problems.
Last week, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest launched a mobile banking app to enable people to withdraw money from cash machines using their smartphone.Last week, Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest launched a mobile banking app to enable people to withdraw money from cash machines using their smartphone.
This marked the latest development in a long-predicted move towards the smartphone becoming a digital wallet.This marked the latest development in a long-predicted move towards the smartphone becoming a digital wallet.

NatWest statement in full

"This is a technical problem affecting a large number of NatWest and Ulster Bank customers, and a small number of RBS customers, including some of our business customers.
"It was caused by a failure of our systems to properly update customers' balances overnight. The main problem customers are having is that where people have had money go into their accounts overnight, there may be a delay in it showing up on their balance. This is an unacceptable inconvenience for our customers, for which we apologise.
"We can assure our customers that this problem is strictly of a technical nature and will be fixed as soon as possible. We can also confirm that no customers will be permanently out of pocket as a result of this.
"We will be keeping over 1,000 NatWest branches in all major towns and cities open until 7pm tonight to assist customers who are unable to get to their branch during working hours."