KBC eyes expansion beyond mortgages

KBC Bank said it plans to move into the lending of professionals such as doctors and dentists which it says other banks have ignored since the crash, as it finally confirmed its Belgian parent will commit to the Irish market.

Along with other domestic and foreign lenders, KBC got severely burnt during the crisis on its commercial and residential property loans and needed tens of millions of euro from its group to keep afloat.

Though criticised by the Financial Services Union over the length of the review, its parent has concluded the Irish bank has a secure future because the Irish economy has sprung back so strongly.