Bank of Ireland plans to return €1.15 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks in the coming months, after reporting a surge in earnings on the back of higher interest rates and the purchase of loans from KBC Bank Ireland, as the Belgian-owned lender exits the market. The bank’s pretax profit for the year rose to €1.94 billion from €1.01 billion for 2022, with net interest income rising 48 per cent to €3.68 billion. “We look to the future with continued confidence.
While we are mindful of the risks presented by the external environment, the overall outlook for our core markets, and Ireland in particular, remains positive,” said chief executive Myles O’Grad