Server crash takes out Lloyds ATMs

ATM

Customers were left with no access to their cash this morning as a server error brought down Lloyds Banking Group's ATMs and stopped debit card transactions.

A report from the Scotsman claimed the break down affected the whole banking group which, since its purchase of HBOS in 2009, became the largest retail bank in the UK.

It isn't clear whether the crash affected the entire of the UK or just specific areas of Scotland, but it may have affected a number of other banks too.

A call centre operative from Lloyds Bank told the Scotsman: "The facilities aren't working at all. It's all banks that are affected, not just us."

A spokesperson from the banking group told IT PRO: "We experienced a technical error which resulted in some customers briefly being unable to use their card for transactions. The problem was quickly rectified."

The bank is not the first company to have its operations taken out by faulty IT.

Tesco stores went out of action after an IT upgrade went awry last year and even the London Stock Exchange was brought down thanks to a server crash.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.