Major competition boost as Spanish lender to enter Irish banking market 

Spanish lender Bankinter said it intends to use its subsidiary Avant Money as an Irish banking branch

Niall Corbett, CEO Avant Money

The Irish banking market is set to receive a major competition boost with the Spanish bank behind Leitrim-based mortgage broker Avant Money announcing the establishment of an Irish banking branch. 

Bankinter, which is Spain's fifth-largest lender, said the move would provide Avant Money with a full banking licence, which would allow it to offer a wider range of financial products and services here into the future.