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| NatWest and RBS customers hit by technical problems | NatWest and RBS customers hit by technical problems |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A large number of NatWest customers, along with RBS and Ulster Bank account holders have been unable to access online services. | A large number of NatWest customers, along with RBS and Ulster Bank account holders have been unable to access online services. |
| Technical issues also meant that some balances were not updated with overnight payments. | Technical issues also meant that some balances were not updated with overnight payments. |
| RBS apologised for the "unacceptable inconvenience" and said customers would not be left out of pocket. | RBS apologised for the "unacceptable inconvenience" and said customers would not be left out of pocket. |
| The group is keeping over 1,000 branches open until 19:00BST on Thursday to assist customers. | The group is keeping over 1,000 branches open until 19:00BST on Thursday to assist customers. |
| In an update on its website, Natwest said all account information had been updated by late afternoon, but some online services were still unavailable. It said it was working hard to fully resolve the situation as soon as possible. | In an update on its website, Natwest said all account information had been updated by late afternoon, but some online services were still unavailable. It said it was working hard to fully resolve the situation as soon as possible. |
| The banking group confirmed that a number of business accounts had also been affected. | 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. |
| Apology | Apology |
| 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 | 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. | "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. | "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 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." | "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." |
| Have you been affected by the technical problems? Get in touch using the form below: |