Experts are trying to restore online services at a specialist bank for charities a week after reports of suspected cyber fraud prompted it to suspend access.<\/p>\n
The CAF Bank, based in West Malling, Kent, said it was “not yet in a position to safely restore the service” after identifying what it described as a previously unknown vulnerability in third-party software.<\/p>\n
Chief executive Alison Taylor said teams were liaising with technology partners and external experts to resolve the issue and would be working through the weekend.<\/p>\n
She said the core bank was not affected, money remained safe, payments were still going through and time-sensitive payments, including payroll, were being prioritised.<\/p>\n
CAF Bank, which serves more than 14,000 charities and non-profit organisations across the UK, suspended online services on 24 July after reports of suspected cyber fraud.<\/a><\/p>\n The disruption left some charities concerned about their ability to pay staff and suppliers.<\/p>\n In an update to customers, external<\/a>, Taylor said staff were working to process payment instructions, including payroll payments, and make outbound verification calls.<\/p>\n She said additional staff had been assigned to telephone banking and temporary processes had been introduced to handle bulk payments more quickly.<\/p>\n “I am acutely aware of the challenges that this will be causing and that many customers are facing long delays to get through to us on the phone,” she said.<\/p>\n She said regulators and law enforcement agencies had been kept informed.<\/p>\n CAF Bank said it would provide further updates when more information became available.<\/p>\n Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external<\/a>, X, external<\/a>, and on Instagram, external<\/a> and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external<\/a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n