Chaos continues for Ulster Bank customers

Half a million customers of Ulster Bank are still having problems accessing their accounts.

It is almost three weeks after an IT failure at its parent company, Royal Bank of Scotland, caused thousands of bills to remain unpaid, and salaries not to show up on customer's bank statements.

Some customers have been double-charged for transactions, as officials at the bank continue to deal with the huge backlog in payments.

But the bank says many customers should see improvements in the updating of their accounts over the next few days.

"Many customers should continue to see an improved position on their accounts today, with account transactions continuing to update," Ulster Banks said in its latest statement on the crisis.

The banks said that next week will be the final week of any significant delays for customers.

"There will be gradual, but significant and noticeable improvements throughout the remainder of this week and next," it added.

"We expect that by the week of the 16 July the vast majority of customers will return to a normal service."

Some 36 branches will open again today from 10am until 3pm, while 10 branches will open tomorrow.

The North's Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has said he is disappointed with Ulster Bank's handling of the issue.

"They gave an assurance it would be sorted out within a matter of days, and have had four deadlines now which have passed," Minister Wilson said.

"Customers have been left in the dark - they really should have been straight with customers from the very start."