Household lending down almost 4% in January

Loans to households continued to decline in January, falling by 3.9% or €690m compared to the same period last year, according to the Central Bank.

Mortgage lending in January was also down from last year, by 2.4%.

The level of private deposits in January fell by 7% or €482m compared to the same month last year, the bank said.

Meanwhile the Credit Reviewer John Trethowan has confirmed that both AIB and Bank of Ireland met the lending targets set for them by the Minister for Finance last year.

The pillar banks were set a goal of €3bn.