Not first time banks failed customers

The Ulster Bank fiasco is not the first time Irish customers have been effectively frozen out of their accounts by financial service difficulties.

In Dec 2010, customers at rival firm Bank of Ireland had an altogether different problem after a separate “computer glitch” meant they were also unable to access all of the money in their cash accounts.

On Dec 7 of that year the bank became aware that customers were unable to access their ATMs or make online transactions, effectively hamstringing their plans for the hours, days, and in some cases weeks ahead.