From Friday to Monday inclusive, the penultimate stage of the transfer of customer data from Postbank, which is part of the Deutsche Bank Group, to a common IT platform is planned. In similar events earlier this year, customers complained of serious online banking problems.
As can be seen from the message on bank website, from Friday, March 31, 5:00 p.m. to Monday, April 3, until 9:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., banking transactions will not be possible – neither via bank app on a smartphone, nor online on your personal computer or by telephone.
This will also affect cash withdrawals – in some ATMs this operation will be suspended. “However, many of them will continue to operate as usual,” a company spokesperson said. Customers will also be able to withdraw cash at other locations, such as supermarket checkouts.
Credit card available
This time, Deutsche Bank promises better and faster support in case something goes wrong. Judging by the number of customers, the next stage is the grandest. The data of around five million Postbank customers will be transferred to the common platform: current accounts, sight and term deposits, as well as savings products. “Nearly 3,000 employees are involved in the project, of which around 1,000 will be working in shifts for 72 hours around the clock this weekend,” explained IT manager Stefan Peschke.
In the case of credit cards, it is reported that following the data migration, customers will not be able to see their transactions for ten days. “Credit cards, however, can be used, there are hardly any restrictions,” said project manager Roesch. “The balance and transaction display function will resume in a few days.”
The goal of the Unity project is to unite 12 million Postbank customers and 7 million Deutsche Bank customers in Germany on a single IT platform. So. Deutsche Bank wants to save 300 million euros per year from 2025. Data migration is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
Another task remains, namely the transfer of two million customers and about four million contracts: corporate banking, construction finance and installment loans.
