Central Bank predicts higher demand for loans

Loan demand for all aspects of household credit is expected to increase during the first quarter of this year.

In its latest bank lending survey, the Central Bank added that the first three months of 2013 are also likely to see less stringent lending criteria as banks continue to ease their credit standards for borrowers.

The latest survey — which collates the Irish responses from a eurozone-wide banking trend study — found that the fourth quarter of 2012 saw an increase in mortgage demand, while customers’ demand for general lending was unchanged for the fourth consecutive quarter.