Photo/Illutration A notice at a Mitsubishi UFJ Bank branch in Tokyo on Oct. 10 apologizes for the inability to make interbank transfers. (Shimpei Doi)

An interbank data communications system continued to malfunction early on Oct. 11, and its operator said it cannot forecast when it can fix the problem that has affected more than 1 million transactions.

The Japanese Banks’ Payment Clearing Network (Zengin-Net) said it is still possible to transfer money using alternative means, but the process “may take longer than usual.”

The “Zengin System” failure started at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 10, affecting customers at 11 banks. At one point, about 1.4 million bank transactions were delayed.

A total of 400,000 transactions that had not been completed as of last night are being processed through alternative methods, according to Zengin-Net. It added that even transactions dated on Oct. 11 may be delayed.

Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, a major financial institution affected by the failure, said on its website on Oct. 11 that it would accept interbank transfers only until noon.

Even if the transactions are made, “the arrival of the transferred funds is expected to be tonight,” the bank said.

It is urging its customers to conduct money transfers using other banks.

Interbank transfers are currently also not possible for Resona Bank, Saitama Resona Bank, Kansai Mirai Bank, Yamaguchi Bank, Kitakyushu Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, Custody Bank of Japan, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Momiji Bank, and Shoko Chukin Bank.

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