Lloyds Banking Group and Co-op hit by system errors

Two major banking groups have suffered from system errors which have been causing problems for customers.



Users of Lloyds TSB debit cards, ATMs, and the bank's online banking service complained of difficulties, along with customers at the Halifax.

But a group spokeswoman said the problem was now fixed and a backlog of transactions was being worked through.

The Co-operative Bank also admitted to suffering from a "temporary issue" with its systems.

A spokeswoman for the Halifax, part of Lloyds Banking Group, said the hitches were the result of a "systems failure", which had affected the group's telephone systems as well as ATMs and online services.

"Lloyds Banking Group experienced technical issues that affected some customers. All of our systems are now up and running," said a spokeswoman for the banking group.

"We are working hard to process the transactions impacted by this problem and they will be resolved before the close of play today. We know our customers rely on us, and we apologise for the inconvenience we have caused them."

Friday is the busiest day of the week for cash machine withdrawals.

Earlier this summer hundreds of thousands of account holders at RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank suffered disruption due to a huge computer failure.

A spokesman for the Co-op said there was a problem for some customers in accessing their accounts but the number affected was unclear.

"We are currently experiencing a temporary issue with our banking systems which has resulted in some customers being unable to access their accounts," the Co-op said.

"Lloyds Banking Group experienced technical issues that affected some customers. All of our systems are now up and running," said a spokeswoman for the banking group.

"We are working hard to process the transactions impacted by this problem and they will be resolved before the close of play today. We know our customers rely on us, and we apologise for the inconvenience we have caused them."

Not much good when you were refused your weekend shop at the checkout or had just put £50 worth of petrol in your car and couldn't pay for it!

A beautiful young checkout girl at Sainsbury's assured me only Halifax customers had been affected where she works.