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On 2nd February 2025, Barclays customers across the UK faced widespread disruptions as a major IT outage affected online banking, mobile app services, and some card transactions. 

The issue began early in the morning and persisted for several days, leaving customers unable to access their accounts or make payments. Many took to social media to express frustration, particularly those relying on Barclays for essential transactions, bill payments, and weekend purchases.

Impact of Outage on Barclays’ Customers

Customers reported being unable to log into online banking or use the Barclays mobile app, with some also experiencing failed transactions at point-of-sale terminals. Businesses that rely on Barclays merchant services also faced difficulties processing card payments, causing further disruption.

The timing of the outage added to the frustration, as it coincided with the final weekend before the UK’s self-assessment tax return deadline. Many customers who needed to make last-minute tax payments were unable to do so, leading to concerns about potential penalties. Additionally, reports emerged of house purchases being delayed due to buyers and solicitors being unable to transfer funds, while others found themselves stranded when payments for travel bookings and hotel reservations failed to go through.

As the outage continued, Barclays confirmed it was aware of the issue and was working to restore services. However, with no immediate resolution, affected customers were left uncertain about when they would regain access to their accounts. Barclays later issued a statement apologising for the inconvenience and reassured customers that no personal data had been compromised.

Cause of the Outage Still Unclear

While Barclays has not provided full details on the cause of the outage, it has confirmed that the disruption was not the result of a cyber attack. The bank’s IT teams worked throughout the period to restore services, but the lack of immediate transparency on what led to the failure has raised concerns about the resilience of banking infrastructure in an increasingly digital world.

This incident highlights the critical need for robust risk management and operational resilience strategies in financial institutions. While Barclays has assured customers that this was not a cyber attack, the disruption demonstrates how technology failures – whether from system malfunctions, third-party provider issues, or internal misconfigurations – can significantly impact businesses and consumers alike.

How AJC Can Help

At AJC, we specialise in helping financial institutions and businesses strengthen their resilience against operational, third-party, and cybersecurity risks. Our expertise includes:

  • Risk management frameworks to assess and mitigate vulnerabilities in digital infrastructure.
  • Incident response planning to ensure businesses can react quickly and effectively in the event of an outage.
  • Regulatory compliance support, helping organisations meet stringent financial sector regulations on risk management and data protection.
  • Business continuity planning, ensuring that services remain available to customers even in the face of technical disruptions.
  • Cyber security assessments, identifying potential security gaps to enhance overall system resilience.

The Barclays outage serves as a reminder that digital infrastructure must be continuously monitored and stress-tested to prevent such incidents from occurring. AJC works with businesses to build proactive, resilient systems that protect both operations and customer trust.

To learn more about AJC’s  services and how we can support your organisation, visit our website or contact us today on 020 7101 4861 or info@ajollyconsulting.co.uk

 

Image accreditation: GroupEditor (2018) on WikimediaCommons. Last accessed on 4th February 2025. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barclays_CW.jpg

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