Bank glitch leaves 29,000 without welfare

At least 100,000 people, including 29,000 social welfare recipients and 40,000 HSE employees, were left outraged when an Ulster Bank technical glitch left them without their pay.

A spokesperson for the Department of Social Welfare said: “29,000 social welfare customers have been affected by the glitch. We’re still awaiting confirmation from Ulster Bank when these people can access their money. For our customers there is the option of going to the community welfare office for a supplementary payment to tide them over.”

Ulster Bank had initially told the department that people would be able to access their payments, but over the course of yesterday it emerged that the bank had been unable to process their payments.

The HSE was also hit with problems processing payments: 40,000 employees found their accounts were not showing any wages payments.

The HSE’s national director of finance, Liam Woods, sent an email to all staff to tell them that there would be a delay in salary payments.

“The HSE has been informed that, due to a technical issue currently being experienced by Ulster Bank, there will be a delay in the lodgement of salary payments due to be made today to some staff. The HSE is one of a range of organisations in Ireland and the UK currently being affected by these issues.”

The issues with Ulster Bank technical systems have had a knock-on effect on customers in other banking institutions as well. It is understood that no payments (debits or credits) were received from Ulster Bank. This has affected customers in other banks such as AIB and Bank of Ireland who were expecting payments that have not been processed by Ulster Bank.

A spokesperson for AIB said: “AIB are working closely with Ulster Bank to assist them in every way possible in an effort to reduce the impact on customers.”

A spokesperson for Bank of Ireland said the problems at Ulster Bank could result in some customers incurring late fees. “We are working closely with customers who contact us in difficulty but, at this point in time, it is not possible to determine the impact of charges such as late payment and unpaid fees that some customers may incur as a result of delayed payments from another bank, and we would encourage any customer who is adversely affected by such charges as a direct result of the delay to make direct contact with us.”

Ulster Bank said it has been trying to minimise the impact on its customers and will keep branches open until 7pm today.

“We will be keeping approximately 80 Ulster Bank branches open until 7pm in major towns and cities to assist customers who are unable to get to their branch during working hours and our 60 Saturday opening branches will open as usual this weekend,” said an Ulster Bank spokesperson.