Charities across the UK are facing concerns over paying staff and suppliers after CAF Bank suspended its online banking services. The bank, which serves more than 14,000 non-profit organisations, has had its online portal unavailable since 24 July following reports of suspected cyber fraud.
The disruption has affected the ability of some charities to manage essential operations such as payroll. Kevan Hodges, chief executive of Maidstone-based 21 Together, described the situation as "appalling," noting staff concerns about unpaid wages.
CAF Bank chief executive Alison Taylor apologised for the disruption, stating that the online banking service would be unavailable until further notice. She added that the bank is working with external experts to resolve an issue identified with third-party software related to its online banking portal, while the core bank is not affected. Extra teams are available on the phone, and time-sensitive payments like payroll are being prioritised.