"Balance is 0 Won but 1.45 Million Won Cash Withdrawn"... Chaos in Ireland Due to Bank Error

Withdrawal Over Limit Allowed Due to Technical Issue
Bank States "Amount Exceeding Balance Recorded as Debt"

A technical error at a bank in Ireland caused a situation where up to approximately 1.45 million KRW could be withdrawn from accounts with no balance.

People gathered in front of the Bank of Ireland ATM machine.
Photo by X (X).

On the 15th (local time), a commotion broke out as many people gathered in front of ATMs located throughout Ireland. Photos posted on social media showed people lining up late at night, waiting for their turn.

The reason for the crowd in front of the ATMs was a technical issue at Bank of Ireland, the largest bank in Ireland.

Due to the error in the bank's services, it became known that even if an account had no balance, up to 1000 euros (approximately 1.45 million KRW) could be transferred via internet banking and then withdrawn at an ATM.

According to major foreign media such as the UK’s Sky News, police officers were stationed overnight in front of some ATMs to maintain security.

On the following day, the 16th, Bank of Ireland issued a statement apologizing for the confusion, saying, "Several services were affected by a technical issue yesterday, but they were restored this morning."

They added, "Some customers were able to transfer and withdraw funds exceeding the normal limit. The amounts withdrawn beyond the balance will be recorded as debt in the customers’ accounts, and no interest will be charged."

In relation to this, the Irish Department of Finance has requested the Central Bank to conduct an investigation and confirm the need for additional measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.