A NUMBER OF Ulster Bank branches remain open until 3pm today as the bank continues to deal with the fallout of its major ongoing technical problem which has prevented customers from receiving payments.
A total of 34 branches opened around the country between 10am and 3pm today, with another twelve branches due to open for three hours on Sunday morning.
Yesterday the bank promised it would be fully operational again by Monday after it said it had identified the root causes of the systems failure. However RTE reports that the bank now says the backlog of payments is taking longer than expected to clear, and it is likely to be later than Monday before the problem is resolved.
A large number of customers who are angry with the technical glitch, which began three days ago, have taken to Twitter to express their unhappiness with the bank.
Tens of thousands of customers have been unable to receive money, including salaries and social welfare payments, into their accounts.
The bank has said it will refund any customers who incurred fees or charges as a result of the technical problem.
Meanwhile the Central Bank has been criticised for not intervening in the ongoing problems.
Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Michael McGrath this morning called for the Central Bank to break its silence and give consumers advice and information on what is happening at Ulster Bank, as well as reassurance that customers who have missed mortage payments will not have a black mark recorded against them in their credit history.
“The ‘technical’ IT problems being experienced by Ulster Bank since Wednesday have caused enormous distress and inconvenience for thousands of ordinary customers of that bank and of other banks,” said McGrath.
“This could potentially develop into an even more serious crisis if it is not fully resolved in the next 48 hours.
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