Bank says sorry for cash problems

Customers were frustrated after the service went out of action

Millions of customers across the UK were left without any access to cash after their bank cards stopped working in cash machines.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which also owns NatWest, has apologised after its cashpoint, online and telephone banking systems crashed.

Natwest cards and all RBS services are now working, but Natwest's web and phone banking are still affected.

A spokeswoman said: "We are very sorry, and we're working to sort it out."

'Very frustrating'

She added that cash machine services had all returned to normal by the afternoon of 2 June, but engineers were still trying to repair Natwest's internet and telephone banking network.

Guy Swanwick, 45, from Liverpool, told the BBC News website he tried to access cash at 2300 on Friday 1 June near his home, but was unable to do so.

Mr Swanwick, who is disabled, said: "I tried 12 cashpoints without success.

"I ran into several other NatWest customers in the same position. It was very frustrating."