HSBC, Barclays, Virgin Money customers experience banking problems causing salary delays

Nationwide, HSBC, Barclays, and Virgin Money have issued apologies to customers experiencing difficulties with their banking services, with reports of problems including the inability to access online accounts and make transactions. Customers expressed frustration over the closure of local branches, forcing them to rely on online services for urgent financial needs. HSBC UK acknowledged the issues on their website, stating that efforts were being made to resolve the problems affecting online and mobile banking access. Despite assurances from the banks that services were being restored, customers continued to face challenges accessing their accounts and processing payments, particularly on payday. The disruptions in banking services were attributed to various issues, such as a "separate payments issue affecting multiple banks" according to HSBC UK, and a "third-party payments issue" as cited by Nationwide. Barclays and Virgin Money also acknowledged the problems and assured customers that efforts were underway to address the backlog of payments and restore normal operations. The Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England were reported to be monitoring the situation and engaging with the affected banks to resolve the issues promptly. The technical problems resulted in delays in processing payments, impacting customers' ability to send and receive money, particularly affecting those awaiting salary or pension payments. The situation led to frustration among customers, with some expressing concerns over the timing of the disruptions coinciding with essential financial obligations. Despite the challenges faced by customers, the banks reassured that measures were being taken to rectify the issues and restore full functionality to their online banking and mobile app services. As the banks worked to address the disruptions, customers were advised to remain patient and vigilant, with the Financial Conduct Authority emphasizing the importance of monitoring energy readings to avoid overpaying. Pay.UK, the operator of the affected system, confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved, and payments were gradually returning to normal. However, some customers continued to experience difficulties with processing payments, highlighting the impact of the banking service disruptions on individuals and households relying on timely financial transactions.