Bank of Ireland CEO Richie Boucher says he will ease back from his crisis-time style of leadership to give potential successors more control as the lender’s loan book returns to growth.

Bank of Ireland CEO Richie Boucher said he “deeply regrets” the role the bank played in the financial crisis and that it needed support from the taxpayer.

Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher’s retention was a condition for a group of investors that bought a stake in the lender in 2011, according to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher’s total remuneration increased by 1.44% to €843,000 last year, according to the company’s latest annualreport.

Bank of Ireland has reported a slowing in the rate of mortgage arrears increases among its customer base, but said more people are still falling behind in their home loan repayments.

Bank of Ireland is to split its retail (Ireland and UK) division into Retail Ireland Division and Retail UK Division.

Bank of Ireland is to split its Ireland and UK retail division in two.