Thousands of ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) Banking Group customers were affected by the bank's communication network error that brought down its internet banking early this morning.

A spokesperson of the bank explained the customers were not able to access their bank accounts through the internet and had limited access to their funds through its ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) or its EFTPOS (Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale).

The bank said the problem surfaced around 9am and went on for two hours until it was restored to normal.

ANZ currently has 1.8 million active internet banking customers or subscribers.

The spokesperson said their call centers and branch staff were also affected after the internet glitch occurred.

The ANZ glitch follows a day after St. George Bank customers experienced the same internet banking problems.

On Tuesday morning, St. George Bank said its internet banking services and other branch systems were stopped for an hour before it was restored to normal.

A month ago, ANZ has faced a social site networking involving debt collections staff who are tracking down people with outstanding personal loans and credit cards.

The bank said a fake Facebook account, under the name of “Max Bourke” emerged for more than a year, claiming it has been approved by the management and used by several ANZ employees. The account was used to gather information on bank customers with bank credit who left their previous residence without informing the bank. The false identity was made up by a member of the bank's unsecured debt collections team.

The fake profile was deleted days after it was reported by a local newspaper that “Max Bourke” is not real.

A spokesperson of Electronic Frontiers Australia comments the fake profile has breached the Federal Privacy Act because it was misleading.