A Google Cloud outage in London disrupted banking apps, websites and other online services across Britain on Tuesday, leaving some customers unable to access accounts or complete transactions. Google later said service had been restored in its London cloud region after a power-related incident.
The disruption began early in the morning and affected infrastructure in Google’s London-based europe-west2 region. Banks reporting problems included Revolut, Halifax, HSBC and Lloyds, although the extent of the disruption varied between institutions.
Revolut experienced interruptions affecting card payments and ATM withdrawals. The company reassured customers that their money and personal data remained safe and said it was working to resolve the problems. A person familiar with the situation linked its outage to Google Cloud, Reuters reported.
The impact extended beyond banking. Remote court hearings were disrupted through the Cloud Video Platform used by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, illustrating how a single infrastructure failure can interrupt public services as well as commercial activity.
Outage-tracking platform Downdetector also recorded complaints involving Royal Mail, parcel delivery company DPD, property website Rightmove and NHS England. However, those reports did not independently establish that every service problem was caused by Google Cloud.
The incident comes amid closer scrutiny of the financial sector’s reliance on major technology suppliers. Britain designated Google Cloud EMEA and three other companies as critical third-party providers in July, bringing them under direct regulatory oversight. Tuesday’s disruption underscores the importance of reliable backup arrangements as banking and public services increasingly depend on shared cloud infrastructure.
