BPI fixing 'internal error' that affected deposits

MANILA - (3rd UPDATE) Scores of irate customers of Bank of the Philippine Islands reported losing up to tens of thousands of pesos in their accounts on Wednesday.

BPI said there was an "internal data processing error" and it was "currently correcting the mispostings."

The bank said some accounts were "debited twice or credited twice for a past transaction."

"We apologize for the inconvenience that this may have caused," BPI said.

The bank's online channels were inaccessible on Wednesday morning but balance checks could be made via ATM.

Kim Avelino, a human resource officer in Ortigas, told ABS-CBN News she lost P12,000 due to an "automatic debit."

Avelino said one of her office mates withdrew P2,000 but her account showed a P5,000 deduction.

Their other co-workers meanwhile reported negative balances in their bank accounts, said Avelino.

LOOK: BPI account shows negative balance even when no withdrawal transaction was made. | @ABSCBNNews @ANCALERTS pic.twitter.com/hxbxHb5ls6

— Kat Domingo (@_katrinadomingo) June 7, 2017

NOT A HACK

BSP: Sinigurado ng BPI na maitatama ang mga ulat ng 'unauthorized transactions' at walang kustomer na mawawalan ng pondo sa kanilang account pic.twitter.com/ACGQ1Q0r0D

— DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) June 7, 2017

The country's central bank meanwhile denied social media rumors that online hackers were behind the incident.

"Hindi po ito na-hack. May mga natatatakot po kasi na ito ay hack daw po -- ito ang umiikot na balita sa social media. Para to make it clear at hindi rin po matakot, nakita agad ng BPI ang they are correcting it immediately po," Pia Roman Tayag, head of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) inclusive finance and financial consumer protection, told radio DZMM.

(This was not a hack. Some clients are worried because of speculations circulating on social media. Just to make it clear, BPI immediately saw the error are now correcting it.)

The BPI, Tayag added, has assured the BSP that it will correct the error within the day and that "no customer fund will be lost."

GLITCH FIXED, SAY BPI

As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, BPI said the glitch has been fixed and access to ATMs was restored.

"We would like to announce that the internal systems error related to transaction mis-postings has been resolved. Access to ATMs has also been restored," the bank said.

"Please accept our gratitude for your patience, and our apologies for any inconvenience you may have experienced," it added.

The bank earlier assured its clients that none of them will lose money because of the error.

"Should you have questions, please contact us at CBGCustomerCareDepartment@bpi.com.ph," BPI said.

BPI Senior Vice President for Strategic Marketing and Decision Support Catherine Santamaria said the bank's online banking and other channels are still being fixed.

"What we're saying is that the ATMs are the ones which are available already. Our internet and our mobile are still being restored as we speak," she told ANC's Business Nightly.