NIB exposure ‘to stay high’

NATIONAL Irish Bank has said that it expects impairment levels to remain high next year, but not to increase any further than was evident in 2010.

The bank added it still feels its loan impairment levels — basically, the amount set aside to cover non-performing loans — peaked during the second quarter of this year.

“We hope that the gradual trend of declining impairments will continue, but of course there can be no guarantees,” chief executive Andrew Healy said in an analyst and investor briefing held by the bank’s Danish parent, Danske Bank, yesterday.