Covid-19: Bank of Ireland will advance emergency business loans for affected companies

Bank of Ireland said it will advance emergency business loans for companies hit by the coronavirus fallout, while rival AIB said there was an increased risk of the outbreak damaging the Irish economy.

The focus of the two main banks comes as the threat of economic disruption has piled on the pressure for the shares prices of Ireland’’s two main banks -- with the shares underperforming a 25-member group of their peers in the eurozone since the start of the year.