Outage of AIB Mobile and Internet Banking hits customers

AIB CUSTOMERS were left frustrated after the bank’s mobile banking app failed this morning.

Numerous customers of the bank took to social media to complain that they could not access the app, transfer money and set up direct debits.

AIB said: “Some customers are currently experiencing intermittent technical issues with our mobile app and internet banking.

“We are working to resolve these issues as soon as possible and apologize for any inconvenience.”

The bank insisted that not all of its customers were affected.

But those affected by the technical problems got angry.

One customer posted on Twitter: “AIB, is there an issue with the AIB Mobile Banking App? I’ve been trying to log in to pay a direct debit all morning, but I can’t log in. Said I need to re-register my device and when I try the page doesn’t load every time. Any ideas?”

One customer said they waited five weeks for their payment and when they got paid today, the banking app wasn’t working, meaning the person couldn’t access their money.

Another customer wrote: “I bought tickets to see Madonna and the useless AIB app doesn’t work so now I’ve lost the tickets. It was dodgy all week. I’ve complained before about getting literally no viable answer. Absolutely angry AIB Ireland.”

It comes after Permanent TSB admitted it was having trouble with its desktop and mobile banking services earlier this week.

Permanent TSB said on Thursday: “We had intermittent technical issues with our Open 24 desktop and mobile app services this morning.

“The problem was identified immediately and resolved within an hour. We apologize to our customers for any inconvenience.”

Regulators at the Central Bank of Ireland have repeatedly warned banks and payment institutions to ensure they have robust safeguards in place to deal with IT outages and to demonstrate that consumer funds are being properly managed and protected.

The latest IT outages come days after online bank Revolut’s customers were told they should be given Irish bank identification numbers to make it easier for people in that country to do their day-to-day banking through the Money app.

The move to replace Revolut’s Lithuanian IBANs (international bank account numbers) with Irish ones will put even more pressure on mainstream banks here.

The payment provider Revolut claims to have around two million Irish customers. The move comes after it established an Irish branch of its European business, Revolut Bank UAB.

Customers in Ireland will start receiving an email from Revolut this week explaining the changes.