TROUBLED banking giant RBS was given an industry award for its computer know-how last week – just as a massive IT failure hit thousands of customers’ accounts.
The bank received a gong for “exceptional business innovation through technology” from Scotland’s computer industry body.
Scotland IS said: “This was a special award made to the RBS Group Technology team in recognition of the way in which they are harnessing their technology expertise.”
They praised RBS, who also sponsored an award, for their “truly outstanding mobile banking app”.
But while the plaudits went down well with the 250-strong audience at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow, on Thursday, they are unlikely to impress RBS and Natwest customers.
An attempt to upgrade software at RBS and Natwest banks continues to disrupt payments going into and out of customers’ accounts.
Branches opened at the weekend to try to help customers get access to their cash and make payments.
And it emerged today that a man in Canterbury, Kent, was kept in custody over the weekend because officials could not confirm that his bail payment had gone through.
Today, Bank of England governor Sir Mervyn King said a “detailed investigation” into what went wrong at the bank needed to be carried out.
A spokesman for RBS said the applications recognised at the awards had nothing to do with the software problems that had since arisen.
No-one was available for comment from Scotland IS.
