STRATEGIC PARTNERS
March 24, 2003
OSAKA, Japan -- About 3,200 ATMs installed at about 900 branches of banks owned by Resona Holdings Inc. malfunctioned for several hours on March 24, according to a report in the Japan Times.
Resona Bank branches that used to be run by Asahi Bank and almost all outlets of Saitama Resona Bank were affected, according to the report.
Resona Bank and Saitama Resona Bank, created after the integration of Daiwa Bank and Asahi Bank, began operating on March 3. The ATMs that Resona Bank took over from Asahi Bank malfunctioned, while none of Daiwa Bank's ATMs were affected.
About 2,100 ATMs at some 300 manned branches were repaired by 12:50 p.m., with the remainder, installed at unmanned outlets, operating normally by 2:30 p.m.
Resona Holdings said technicians were unsure what caused the ATMs to malfunction.
Resona Holdings includes Kinki Osaka Bank, Nara Bank and Resona Trust & Banking Co.
According to the Japan Times, Resona Bank uses the same separate host computers that Daiwa Bank and Asahi Bank had used for their ATM operations. Work to combine the networks is slated to begin next year.
The Resona group has had other problems with its ATMs this month.
Shortly after the new group's launch, 45 Saitama Resona Bank and Resona Bank ATMs in Lawson convenience stores in Nara Prefecture malfunctioned, preventing cardholders from withdrawing money from accounts at other banks or checking balances in those accounts.
Resona group banks also double-billed more than 2,000 electronic and other accounts, mainly of corporate customers, for automatic bill payment withdrawals.
The Resona group attributed the problems to clerical errors, denying they were caused by problems with its computer system, according to the Times report.
