Hundreds of Bank of Bermuda customers were unable to use their EasyLink cards over the weekend because money was wrongly taken from their accounts and others were denied access to automatic teller machines.

There were queues inside the Bank's Front Street headquarters yesterday as bemused customers sought to find out why money had supposedly been taken out of their accounts.

Customers had to line up to see tellers because ATM machines were not working.

Meanwhile, the Bank has admitted that hundreds of customers have been unable to use their Bank of Bermuda Mastercard credit cards in the United States because of a computer problem.

One Bank customer, who asked not to be named, had almost $400 in his current account on Saturday in St. George's, but his EasyLink card was refused in a restaurant.

The ATM machine in the Old Town refused to issue him cash and a statement alleged he had an overdraft of almost $600.

Other customers were unable to use Bank of Bermuda ATMs in Hamilton and Somerset.

A Bank of Bermuda spokesman said yesterday: "A number of Bank customers' accounts were wrongly debited twice for certain transactions made either through an ATM machine or through the Bank's VRU.

"This problem was identified and thoroughly corrected by 9.30 a.m. Monday.

The Bank apologises to those clients who were inconvenienced.'' However, customers at the Bank's Front Street headquarters were told around noon yesterday that ATM machines were still not working properly and that they would have to use tellers.

One member of staff said: "We have had so many people this morning queuing up with problems. The ATMs are still not working properly so you have to see a teller.'' Members of staff confirmed, however, that customers given false overdrafts would have have their accounts corrected so they would not be charged interest.

Meanwhile, the Bank has confirmed that around 200 customers have been unable to use their Mastercard in the US.

Bank customer Adam Cooper, a former Royal Gazette reporter, said yesterday: "I tried my card in a couple of places in Boston and it said `no such issuer'. It works in some stores but not others.'' "I spoke to the Bank on Friday and they say they have had the problem for a month. They said they hoped to have it fixed by last week but it wasn't.

"They said the places where there are problems are in New York, Boston and Florida.

"I thinks its pretty abominable for a month to have this problem when you can't use your credit card overseas.

"That could be disastrous for some people who only have one credit card. They were offering to transfer credit to other credit cards but I don't have one.'' A Bank spokesman said the problem affected around 200 customers but was "sporadic''.

The Bank said the problem did not lie with them. They were working with Mastercard and the processing company, FDR, to see what the problem was within their companies.

"In the meantime, we are working with every client who calls to report a problem to ensure that they have adequate credit and access to cash, particularly if they happen to be on holiday.

"We apologise to those customers who have been inconvenienced and assure them that Mastercard and FDR are doing everything they can to resolve the problem.

"While the problems are intermittent, we wish to alert those customers who rely on Mastercard that, should they experience a problem with their card, they should contact the Bank as soon as possible so we can assist them, if necessary, and also so that the failed transaction can be immediately reported to Mastercard.''