AIB margin and conditions improve

AIB is on track to return to a pre-provision operating profit at the end of this year as trading conditions improve.

The 99.8% State-owned bank has issued an interim management update for the first three months of this year. It said the net interest margin continued to improve, which is the second consecutive quarter that progress has been made on this key determinant of profitability.

The bank attributed the improved net interest margin to the end of the Government’s eligible liabilities guarantee scheme and the repricing of its products.