Barclays says IT glitch that locked people out of their accounts has been resolved

Business

Barclays says an IT glitch that left some customers locked out of their accounts has been resolved after the disruption entered a third day.

The bank said the “technical issue” has been fixed and delayed payments processed.

In a statement on Sunday, Barclays said: “We are working on bringing balances up to date for some of our customers and addressing any outstanding issues.

“We are very sorry for any disruption and will ensure that no impacted customer is left out of pocket.”

The IT glitch is not believed to be related to a cyber attack or malicious activity.

The disruption started on Friday – on what was payday for many British workers and the deadline for self-assessment tax returns.

Barclays apologised to people who had been affected and promised no one would be left out of pocket.

It added that call centres would be open for longer this weekend and the bank will be contacting customers who may be vulnerable proactively.

A closed Barclays branch in Swindon following the IT issues on 1 February 2025
Image:
A closed Barclays branch in Swindon following the IT issues on 1 February 2025

However, the company’s handling of complaints provoked an angry reaction online.

Customers have posted on X that they were unable to buy shopping for themselves and their young children or pay their bills.

In response to one user who said her household “has no access to money”, the Barclays UK Help account asked: “Are there any friends or family who can offer support?”

When she said she didn’t and criticised the reply as “so triggering”, the bank’s X account posted links to the Trussell Trust, a charity that runs food banks, and Citizens Advice, which offers help for a range of problems.

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The beginning of the year is also a key time for people who file self-assessment tax returns.

In a statement, HMRC said it is “working closely” with Barclays to minimise any impact on those submitting their self-assessments.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “Our services are working as normal, so customers will still have been able to file their returns on time.

“Also, the issues will not result in late payment penalties as they don’t apply until 1 March.”

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