NatWest Opens Early As Tech Hitch Continues

Banking giant NatWest has opened most of its branches early to help customers affected by ongoing computer problems.

The bank tweeted: "We are opening the majority of our branches from 8am to assist customers who can't get to a branch during normal working hours.

"Customers account balances have not updated properly overnight. If money has gone into an account it may be delayed appearing on the balance.

"We also recognise this is an unacceptable inconvenience for which we apologise.

The computer problems have also affected some customers at RBS, as both part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group and they share online infrastructure.

RBS also decided to open branches early today.

The problem became widespread on Thursday as thousands of customers were affected.

RBS had told Sky News in a statement: "We can assure customers this is strictly a technical issue and continue to work hard to resolve it."

NatWest has promised that customers would "not be left out of pocket" by its IT failure.

The bank problems came amid news that credit ratings agency Moody's downgraded a number of major world banks, including the RBS group.

More follows...