A surprising technological hiccup at the Bank of Ireland has set off a financial frenzy, where ATMs across the country became unexpected dispensers of free money. Customers who had meager account balances found themselves able to withdraw substantial sums, leading to long queues at ATMs as people rushed to capitalize on the unexpected opportunity.
Bank of Ireland in Navan, major fault allowing money to be drawn out even if you have none in the bank. Where are the Gardai? pic.twitter.com/XujVzIhdAr
— Chris Rattigan ©️®️™️ (@ChrisRattigan1) August 15, 2023
ATMs in Ireland Giving Out Free Money
A technical glitch within the Bank of Ireland’s system inadvertently created an avenue for customers with low account balances to withdraw substantial amounts, sometimes reaching 1,000 euros. The mechanism involved transferring funds into a Revolut account, allowing the money to be accessed from ATMs. This digital quirk quickly turned ATMs into impromptu cash fountains, leading to a surge of hopeful individuals trying to benefit from the unintended boon.
Dublin Airport confirm large queue outside Terminal 1 is actually for the Bank of Ireland ATM. pic.twitter.com/C5EoNG9H7n
— Dr Harold News (@DrHaroldNews) August 15, 2023
The Aftermath of the Tech Fluke
In response to the frenzy, Bank of Ireland issued a cautious warning that any funds acquired through this quirk would be reclaimed once the issue was resolved. The bank acknowledged the IT failure, promising to address and rectify it as a top priority. As videos and images flooded social media, showcasing long lines of eager ATM users, the police were deployed to maintain order. Beyond the physical chaos, the bank’s online services and app also took a hit, leaving customers with limited access to their accounts.
We are working on a technical issue that is impacting a number of our services including our mobile app and 365Online. We are working to fix this as quickly as possible and apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused.
— Bank of Ireland (@talktoBOI) August 15, 2023
The situation grew more intricate as Revolut, a banking technology firm, initiated investigations into claims of excessive money transfers. This suggested a ripple effect, potentially impacting other financial institutions as well. Bank of Ireland, meanwhile, issued public apologies for the inconvenience caused by the glitch, while its tech team worked to mend the virtual cracks in the system. Nevertheless, a timeline for complete service restoration was yet to be confirmed.
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