A major Philippine bank hit by a system glitch caused chaos as clients claim their accounts were hit by unauthorized transactions.
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) on Wednesday morning assured clients that it was just an “internal data processing error”” and that their system was “not hacked.”
Some clients complained that their accounts got debited or credited twice for a past transaction. Others claim losing tens of thousands of pesos to unauthorized withdrawals.
In a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, an unnamed woman was said to have discovered PHP12B in her checking account in a BPI branch Makati City.
Being a banker herself, she knows that she should not touch the money. She and her husband just laughed at their newfound fortune.
Other clients are left confused and worried.
“I’ve lost confidence in BPI’s system,” said Yumi Sanpei-Angeles in a report by AFP. She added that other people had been inconvenienced more than her.
“We have friends who needed the money today to pay for tuition. Another friend is traveling and cannot withdraw money via ATM. Such a huge hassle for customers because of the company’s negligence”
In the latest situation update posted on the bank’s Facebook page, BPI says that they “de-activated the electronic channels” to do the necessary adjustments.
On the comments section, clients are complaining that they have to endure long lines for over the counter transactions, but some of them still weren’t able to get their money back.
BPI senior vice president Cathy Santamaria warned clients to stay cautious and to avoid posting their banking details on social media.
“Please be vigilant. You also have a role to play in your personal safety,” she said.
