In a bold new experiment in radical financial transparency, banking apps run by Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland briefly allowed customers to see the private transactions and account balances of other users, sources confirmed Monday.

The decision, allegedly triggered by a technical glitch, has been praised by some who see it as a major step toward the open-banking utopia long promised by fintech visionaries. “Gone are the days of keeping your spending habits hidden from your neighbours,” said app user Colin Wigglesworth, who logged in to find he had access to the complete banking histories of dozens of strangers. “Now I know exactly how much my mate Steve spends at Greggs, and frankly, it’s horrifying.”

Lloyds Bank issued a statement insisting that the feature was simply ahead of its time. “In an age of oversharing, we’re thrilled to lead the way for communal banking,” said Chief Innovation Officer Hermione Fuddle. “Imagine: every time you buy a meal deal, half of Yorkshire knows about it. That’s community.”

Not all customers were convinced. “I only joined Halifax because I thought my embarrassing eBay purchases would stay between me and the cloud,” said local resident Doris Plimpton. “Now my grandkids know about the six-foot inflatable flamingo. There’s no going back.”

The Information Commissioner’s Office is currently investigating whether the new feature will be rolled out to all users, or only those who enjoy the thrill of financial public nudity.