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On Friday morning, customers of NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG), HSBC Holdings PLC, and TSB Banking Group faced significant disruptions with their banking apps, which affected their ability to process payments. According to DownDetector, the problems with NatWest’s online services peaked shortly after 7 a.m., with more than 1,100 reports of issues logged on the site.
The outages were widespread among NatWest users, who took to social media platform X to voice their frustrations. Many reported being unable to complete online transactions, leading to widespread inconvenience. The disruption also extended to NatWest’s subsidiary, Royal Bank of Scotland, which experienced similar service problems, as evidenced by a noticeable increase in reports on DownDetector.
While HSBC and TSB also experienced technical difficulties, the scale of the issues reported by their customers was less severe compared to those faced by NatWest. Both banks saw spikes in complaints early in the morning, but the problems appeared to be more contained.
In response to the outages, NatWest issued a statement acknowledging the issue and outlining the steps being taken to rectify the situation. A spokesperson for the bank said, “Some customers have experienced difficulty in making payments via the mobile app this morning. We’re working to resolve this as quickly as possible and we’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
The disruptions have caused significant frustration among customers who rely on these banking services for their daily transactions. The timing of the outages, occurring at the start of a busy Friday, added to the impact, as many users were attempting to complete end-of-week transactions and payments.
The technical difficulties faced by these major banks underscore the vulnerability of digital banking systems to disruptions. As banks increasingly rely on online platforms for customer transactions, ensuring the stability and reliability of these services becomes crucial. The swift response from NatWest, including efforts to resolve the issue, is aimed at minimizing the impact on customers and restoring normal service as soon as possible.
Overall, the outages highlight the ongoing challenges faced by financial institutions in maintaining robust and reliable online banking systems, especially during peak usage times. The situation remains under review, with efforts focused on addressing the immediate technical issues and preventing future occurrences.
