AIB failed to reimburse more than €8 million to 70,000 people whose accounts were debited for ATM withdrawals though they did not take the cash.

THREE of the bigger international names linked with a potential bid for AIB’s €2 billion stake in its Polish bank have withdrawn their interest, reports suggest.

A MINIMUM of seven international financial services companies have expressed an interest in acquiring AIB’s 70% stake in Polish player, Bank Zachodni, according to reports emanating from Poland.

There is concern for the future of hundreds of bank staff at AIB's subsidaries in the North and the UK.

A former bank manager was charged today with a £7m (€7.75m) fraud and money laundering operation.

PRIME office rents in Dublin are almost three times more expensive than Belfast.

The chairman of the North’s Policing Board confirmed tonight that he is to step down from the role.

Bank margins on financial products have risen amid financial uncertainty, a Stormont committee heard today.

The Northern economy should avoid the worst of the global financial downturn, according to First Trust Bank.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness met officials from leading banks for talks today as the political leaders came under pressure to tackle growing economic problems.

There has been a cautious endorsement for the Northern Executive from the North's business community today.

One of the North's leading banks is predicting that political stability will help boost the economy over the coming years.

The North’s big four banks were told today that they need to be much more open about the charges they impose on customers to stimulate competition.

AIB has said it is targeting a 25% increase in loans by the end of the year, higher than previously guided in February.

An investigation by the Competition Commission has found that bank customers in the North are generally paying more than they should for a range of services.

AIB has reported record annual profits for an Irish bank of €1.7 billion, as loan growth and lower tax charges outstripped cost increases.

The UK Competition Commission is in Belfast today, taking evidence as part of an unprecedented investigation into alleged "rip-off" charges imposed on personal account holders by banks in the North.

The Competition Commission is visiting Belfast this week as part of its investigation into alleged “rip-off” charges imposed on personal account holders at Northern banks, it was revealed today.

The Ulster Bank today became the second of Northern Ireland’s Big Four banks to bow to pressure and drop charges on personal current accounts.

THE chairman of Ireland’s competition watchdog is to quit after being offered the €370,000 top job at its British equivalent.

The British Competition Commission is to investigate the North's four main banks at the request of the Office of Fair Trading.

NORTHERN banks are still billing their customers for millions of pounds in charges they could avoid, it was claimed yesterday.

EVIDENCE of price-fixing by AIB, Bank of Ireland, Ulster Bank and Northern Bank in the North has been found by the British Office of Fair Trade (OFT).

The financial services regulator (IFSRA) has advised bank customers to shop around for the cheapest current account charges.

Northern Ireland’s big four banks were tonight accused of relying on customer apathy to get away with continuing to offer poor deals.

A special fund to help some of the tens of thousands of children affected by the Asian earthquake and tsunami was established in Northern Ireland today by the Honorary Indian Consul.

Graham Technology has today disclosed that the software solutions firm has more than doubled its profits since this time last year.

Workers at the First Trust Bank in the North have secured a new three-year pay deal.

AIB has agreed a voluntary redundancy package that will cut 250 staff in Britain and Ireland and cost the bank a reported €26m, according to a report in the Irish Times today.

Northern Ireland’s Big Four banks were today accused of overcharging customers, with overdraft fees ten times more than would be levied in Britain.

The setting up of a new Industrial Development Board office in Dublin is the "logical step" to improve cross-border trade links, Stormont Enterprise Minister Reg Empey said today.