Sony's web bank suffers down-time

Technical problems have knocked Sony's fledgling internet bank out of action.

A glitch has made accessing its website and using cash machines temporarily impossible.

The company says the cause of the disruption is under investigation but, at present, it can't say when the problem will be fixed.

Sony has attracted about 34,700 Japanese customers to its online banking offering, since it was launched in June.

The bank has no branch offices. Instead, customers use convenience store cash machines operated by partners Sumitomo Mitsui Banking.

Sony says that while the system is down, customers can withdraw money in person at Sumitomo Mitsui branches.

The service suffered similar disruption on the day of its launch, after hordes of potential customers logged on at the same time.