Banking: NAB nabs salaries in computer glitch
National Australia Bank is struggling to deal with customer complaints after a computer problem left transfers - including salaries - undone.
The problem is now into its third day as electronic payments have not been made.
Although the bank says that it has processed the majority of outstanding payments, it also says that the problem has not been fully rectified. It hopes - but cannot guarantee - that funds transfers will be back on track by the end of business today.
If it fails, then accounts with end-of-month standing orders may go overdrawn or payments bounced before salaries are credited - even though employers issued instructions in good time.
The bank says that the problem resulted from a file that became "corrupted" and that technicians have been working hard to fix it, but that it's not a simple task. It admits that "a large number" of customers are affected.
The bank's recommendation, if customers cannot get necessary cash out of an ATM, is to visit their branches. However, there is no news as to whether the bank intends to extend opening hours to facilitate this.
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But it's not only credits that are causing problems: NAB admits that EFTPOS and ATM systems "may" be subject to delays.
The numbers of people turning up at branches is causing a problem: extra staff are one issue but the bank says that it is also having to provide additional security.
Bloggers and those who comment on newspaper articles are having a field day with widespread criticism of the bank's management but the most ire reserved for the suggestion that, today being Friday, many customers may not see the money in their accounts until Sunday. "How are we supposed to feed our families," one poster raged.
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