NatWest outage – what’s happening and how to cope

If you tried to log into NatWest online banking today and hit a dead end, you’re not alone. A sudden outage has left many customers staring at error messages, wondering if their money is still safe. In the next few minutes we’ll break down what’s causing the problem, where you can get the latest info, and what simple steps you can take right now.

Why the outage occurred

NatWest says the disruption started after a technical glitch in their core banking platform. The glitch made the servers overload, so the website and mobile app went offline. It’s a common issue when a system update doesn’t play nice with older code. The bank’s IT team is working around the clock to reset the servers and restore full service.

While the outage is technical, it can feel personal because you can’t check your balance, move money, or pay a bill. The good news is that your accounts are still safe – the problem is with the front‑end, not the actual money stored in the bank’s vaults.

What you can do right now

First, stay calm. The outage usually clears up within a few hours once the engineers fix the bug. In the meantime, you have a few work‑arounds:

• Use a nearby ATM. Cash withdrawals still work because they run on a separate network.
• Call NatWest’s helpline. Phone lines stay active and can help you with urgent transfers or balance checks.
• Try the mobile app later. Often the app recovers before the website, so keep refreshing.
• Check social media. NatWest posts live updates on Twitter and Facebook. Those feeds usually have the latest ETA.

If you need to pay a bill today, consider using a different payment method – a credit card, PayPal, or a friend’s account. Most merchants accept multiple options, so you won’t miss a deadline.

Once the system is back, log in and review recent transactions. It’s a good habit to double‑check that nothing looks off after a service disruption.

Lastly, set up alerts for future outages. NatWest lets you subscribe to email or SMS notifications about system status, so you’ll hear about problems before you try to log in.

Outages happen, but they don’t have to ruin your day. Keep a backup plan, stay informed through official channels, and you’ll be back to normal banking in no time.