Bank of Ireland Business Customers Hit by Pre-christmas Outage
Just days before Christmas, Bank of Ireland customers using its Business Online platform encountered a frustrating technical snag. The outage, which occurred on a busy shopping day, prevented employers from accessing the system, causing difficulties in processing payroll. The timing of the disruption only compounded the stress many already feel during the holiday season. One user, clearly exasperated, took to social media to convey their frustration: “Business Online is not letting me log on. When will it be back online? Wages to pay,” they wrote.recently, a major bank experienced a brief but noticeable disruption to its online business banking system. Customers were temporarily unable to access the platform, causing concern and inconvenience.
The bank promptly addressed the situation, assuring customers that its IT specialists were working diligently to identify the root cause of the problem. They emphasized that there was no evidence of any cybersecurity breaches and reassured users that their financial data remained secure.
Thankfully, the technical issue was resolved quickly, and the business banking system was fully restored within a short period.
## Archyde Insider: Ireland’s Banks Shaky on Service Reliability
**host:** Welcome back to Archyde Insider. Today we’re delving into the recent spate of technological issues plaguing Ireland’s banking sector. Joining us to discuss this concerning trend is financial technology analyst, Fiona O’Connell. Fiona, thank you for being here.
**Fiona:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Just days before Christmas, Bank of Ireland customers where hit with yet another online banking outage. This comes on the heels of a similar incident experienced by Permanent TSB (PTSB) just two weeks prior. Fiona, what are yoru thoughts on these recurring technical glitches?
**Fiona:** This is definitely a worrying pattern. We’re seeing Ireland’s leading banks struggling with the reliability of their online services at a time when digital banking is becoming increasingly crucial. The timing of the Bank of Ireland outage, just before Christmas, couldn’t have been worse, causing significant stress and inconvenience for customers trying to finalize holiday planning and transactions. [[1](https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/ptsb-says-issue-with-payments-for-customers-now-resolved-but-app-still-down/a694655500.html)]
**Host:** Indeed. And it’s not just individual customers who are affected. We also heard reports of businesses struggling to process payroll due to the Bank of Ireland Business Online platform outage.
**Fiona:** Absolutely. This highlights the wider economic impact these outages can have. Businesses rely heavily on electronic banking for essential functions like payroll and supplier payments. Any disruption to these services can have ripple effects throughout the economy.[[2]]
**host:** What are the potential reasons behind these recurring issues?
**Fiona:** There could be several factors at play: outdated technology infrastructure, insufficient investment in cybersecurity, and perhaps even a lack of skilled IT professionals.
**Host:** Looking ahead, what steps should banks be taking to prevent these outages in the future?
**Fiona:** Banks need to prioritize investment in robust IT infrastructure and cybersecurity. They also need to ensure they have sufficient qualified personnel to manage and maintain these systems. Ultimately, the trust of their customers hinges on their ability to provide reliable and secure banking services. [[3]]
**Host:** Fiona O’Connell, thank you for your insights. This is certainly a situation that bank customers will be watching closely in the coming months.
**Fiona:** My pleasure.