Anyone trying to log on to the NatWest or Royal Bank of Scotland banking app this morning may find themselves currently locked out. Thousands of customers have been unable to access accounts, and the situation seems to be growing restless.

What’s Going On?

Problems with the NatWest and RBS apps are affecting heavy users this Friday morning. It would not allow them to check their accounts or even send money using their apps. Instead, it flashes an on-screen message to users saying that “some kind of error has occurred” and the app “cannot establish a connection.” As if the app wanted to take a little break, right?
When Did This Start?

However, according to Down Detector-a website which tracks online issues-people began reporting problems with NatWest from about 2 a.m. These were quickly snowballing-in by 6:50 a.m., well over 1,000 NatWest users had complained. And RBS customers are joining the chorus, too.

Why Does This Matter?

It is not just an inconvenience, it being the last weekday of the month when quite a lot of people get paid. It’s also that time in advance to pay bills for the month. It is really stressful because it is the time when all kinds of banking apps could go haywire.

A spokesperson for NatWest, meanwhile has told The Independent: “We are aware that some of our customers are experiencing issues with our app this morning. We are working hard to resolve the issue and apologise for any inconvenience. “Some customers have experienced difficulty in making payments via the mobile app this morning. We’re working to resolve this as quickly as possible and we’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused,” they said.

Worth noting: this is not the first problem with the NatWest app to arise this year. In May, users could also not log in.

How Are People Reacting?

Many frustrated users had taken to social media to share their complaints. Zamaan Ismail, a user on X, formerly called Twitter, wrote: “Natwest app down typical. what is wrong with ur app??? Cant log in, send payments had to delete and redownload and just giving this EVERYTIME.”

Clearly, people are unhappy about their freeze from accounts and are looking forward to some rapid remedy.

What Can You Do While You Wait?

If you’re one of those affected, here’s a couple of things you can do while waiting for the issue to be resolved:

Check for Updates: Make sure your app is updated. Issues at times get fixed with the latest version of the app.

Try Logging In Later: Sometimes just wait awhile and try again. The problem may resolve itself.
Use Alternative Methodology: For something urgent, such as bill paying, if at all possible, use an alternative method. You may be able to conduct the transaction via a website or by calling your bank.
Looking Ahead

Well, frustrating when this sort of thing happens, but more frustrating since it affects a very important thing in our lives, which is our money. So far, NatWest and RBS are working hard to get everything back to normal. For the meantime, patience should be observed.

Why Do These Issues Happen?

Technology is great, but technology is not quite perfect. Sometimes, in the process of developing and releasing so many different applications and online services, things go wrong for one reason or another. It might be as slight as a glitch in the system, or it can be an explicit technical problem. Whatever the reason, typically, banks work fast to figure out such issues.

Watch for Updates

Updates will most likely be sent from both NatWest and RBS once the problem is fixed. You could either monitor their website or their social media accounts for updates about the subject. They’ll let you know when everything is back to normal and if there’s anything you need to do.

Today is a pretty bumpy day for users of the NatWest and RBS apps. If, among others, you can’t access your accounts or make transactions, you’re not alone in this challenge. The banks know about it and are doing their utmost best to find a solution as fast as possible.

Meanwhile, hang in there, and try not to let the stress get to you. This kind of thing happens every now and then, and before you know it, you’ll be able to resume money management with no hitches.