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Ulster Bank announces compensation for customers hit by technical problems

Ulster Bank has announced details of how it will reimburse customers for out-of-pocket expenses during its IT crisis earlier in the summer.

Hundreds of thousands of customers will receive a €25 once-off payment.

There will be additional interest payments on many accounts, and a top-up payment on settlements for out-of-pocket expenses.

Around half of the bank's 1.1m customers were impacted by the problems, which led to widespread criticism of the bank.

The bank has said it will ensure no customer's credit rating is permanently affected as a result of the incident.

Ulster Bank will start reimbursing out-of-pocket expenses from 3 September.

By way of further compensation the bank will pay an additional 20% of the value of these expenses subject to a maximum of €120 to personal and small business customers.

Customers are being asked to hold on to receipts and other evidence to assist their claim.

Additionally, the bank says it will pay an additional 0.25% on average daily balances for a three-month period between September and November for those with savings accounts.

Certain fees will also be subject to a three-month waiver.

The €25 once-off payment will be paid to customers who visited the bank more frequently during the problem period than in the equivalent period before the incident.

The bank has put a stay on any introduction of fees for personal current account customers until July 2013.

For non-Ulster Bank customers, fees, charges or interest that were incurred as a result of the incident will either not be applied or will be refunded directly by their own bank, where identified.

Ulster Bank said those people should contact their own bank directly if seeking reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

If customers of other banks have concerns about their credit rating as a result of the incident, they should contact their own bank who will facilitate a credit report free of charge.

The Central Bank has said it will monitor the implementation of the plan, while the Financial Ombudsman said anyone not happy with their award can appeal.

However, it guides that individual settlements are likely to be small.

Ulster Bank is spending in excess of the €35m already put aside to deal with the redress package.

Chief Executive Jim Brown will forgo his bonus for 2012 as a result of the disruption.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association has said the compensation deal is disappointing for small businesses.

Chief Executive Mark Fielding said the package added insult to injury by adding extra cost to SMEs to have to go and calculate all their out-of-pocket expenses and claim for them.

Mr Fielding said all small businesses should get a flat compensation fee instead and an automatic free credit check.