Natwest and RBS apologise after customers left unable to withdraw money from cash machines

The glitch is the latest in a long line of technical problems that have affected both banks

Customers with Natwest and RBS banks were unable to withdraw money from cash machines at other banks for two-and-a-half hours (BEN STANSALL/AFP/GettyImages)

An apology has been issued by Natwest and RBS after their customers were unable to withdraw money from cash machines at other banks.

The error lasted about two-and-a-half hours from 10.40am on Saturday afternoon, although cards were still being accepted at the banks’ own ATMs during this period.

Parent company The Royal Bank Of Scotland Group, which operates Ulster Bank in Ireland whose customers were also affected, issued an apology on twitter shortly before 2pm.

It went out on both banks’ “help” accounts and read: “Sorry if you’ve been unable to withdraw cash from a non Natwest/RBS ATM. We can confirm this issue is now fixed. Thanks for your patience.”

That didn’t stop complaints continuing to roll in, however.

Richard B (@Ricman100) tweeted: “Great Natwest down can not draw any money out from any cash machine. No branch nearby. Saturday ruined #natwest #badservice.”

Ryan Styles ‏(@Ryan_700) tweeted: “im having trouble with withdrwing cash again. The machine reads 'financial institution unavailable'! Not happy! [sic].”

The glitch comes less than a year after the “Cyber Monday” meltdown when RBS and Natwest customers’ cards stopped working on what the biggest online shopping day of the year.

The issue left shoppers unable to complete purchases for Christmas presents or withdraw money.

Similar incidents also happened in March last year and in June 2012 when a three-day technical problem left thousands unable to withdraw cash.