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The issue appears to affect transfers above HUF 20 million, while smaller transactions processed through the instant payment system (AFR) continue to function normally. The disruption comes after a three-day banking break following April 30, the last banking day before the long weekend.
According to the report, the problem is particularly critical given that early May is a typical period for wage transfers, raising concerns among employees who may not receive their salaries on time. However, the delays are likely due to system-level issues rather than employer-side problems.
Hungary’s payment infrastructure relies on multiple systems. Retail customers primarily use the instant payment system for transactions below HUF 20 million, which remained operational. Larger transactions, however, are processed through the InterGiro1 system, used for overnight settlements, and InterGiro2, which handles daytime clearing in four-hour cycles. Both systems appear to have been affected.
While no official communication had been issued by system operator Giro Zrt. at the time of reporting, several banking sources confirmed the disruption, according to the report.
Market participants noted that following extended banking holidays, large volumes of transactions typically enter the system simultaneously. In this case, although transfers were initiated on the sending side, they did not reach recipients.
Telex noted that the issue is sector-wide, affecting the entire Hungarian economy, rather than being isolated to individual banks.
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