Bankinter posts 20% growth in Irish loan book

Ireland’s gross income was 14% higher, far outpacing the growth seen across the Group’s other markets, the Spanish lender said

The lender added that its mortgage book stood at €38bn at the end of September, up 5% from a year earlier. Photographer: Angel Navarrete/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Spanish lender Bankinter has welcomed strong business growth in the last three months, which it said has been largely underpinned by a growing loan book in its Irish market.

The European bank announced its expansion into Ireland last year through Avant Money, bringing a much-welcomed boost to competition in what had become an increasingly concentrated banking market.