Nationwide payments to banks and building societies delayed

Payments to and from the Nationwide Building Society to other building societies and banks have been delayed because of an IT glitch.

Customers of what is the UK’s biggest building society have reported a range of problems, including making mortgage payments.

Nationwide says the IT issue has now been resolved but it will take some time to clear the payment backlog.

It said it was “very sorry for any inconvenience caused.”

Nationwide said the problems had been caused by planned maintenance works overnight over-running, resulting in the firm’s network being down for longer than expected.

“It may take a few hours before impacted payments are processed,” it said in a statement.

It has advised customers not to resend any payments they have already attempted to make.

One customer told the BBC that he has been unable to make payments which may affect his mortgage.

Richard Bagnall said he was attempting to transfer money to another building society in order redeem his mortgage today.

“It had to be today to avoid penalties,” he said, adding that it was the final day of his mortgage’s fixed interest rate.

The website showed a “technical error” when he attempted the transfer – but did not suggest that the payment was in a queue, he said.

Responding to a post on X, formerly Twitter, from Nationwide acknowledging the issue, customers have reported a range of problems.

One person said they had made transfers, with the money leaving their account but not entering the other account.

Another person claimed to have had problems buying a train ticket.

Many people have criticised Nationwide, calling the incident “shocking” and “frustrating”.

Nationwide says customers could continue to use their cards online and in shops, log-in to their banking apps, and withdraw money at cash machines.

It says direct debits and standing orders are working normally. Money can still be moved between Nationwide accounts, it added.

The firm is currently trying to buy Virgin Money in a £2.9bn deal which would create the UK’s second largest mortgage and savings group.

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