Up to 20% of loan applications in some credit unions are now coming through Facebook, a body representing the sector has said.

Unless credit unions are permitted to broaden their business and current regulations are relaxed, they will not survive.

Starbucks, setting up shop in Italy for the first time, will open a roastery location in Milan next year, turning to its upscale brand to gain a foothold in the country that birthed espresso.

A group representing some of the biggest credit unions in the country said they plan to make a splash into the mortgage market, with €400m in new lending.

Starbucks — the world’s largest coffee-shop chain — has reported third-quarter revenue that missed analysts’ estimates after same-store sales growth slowed in the Americas, its biggest region.

Housing support groups have broadly welcomed the Government’s housing plan, which has pledged to ramp up social housing supply, incentivise developers, and ease rental pressures.

Organisations in the social housing and construction sectors have backed the plan, but warned that it must be delivered no matter what government takes power in future.

Credit unions have more than €8bn in surplus funds which could be used to help address the social housing emergency, but have been prevented from doing so by the State, it was claimed yesterday.

Excess regulation is hampering credit unions’ ability to provide basic services such as debit cards to their members despite an EU directive aimed at ensuring those services are available to citizens in every country.

Derry 0-12 Down 0-11: When a team hasn’t won in a while, it can forget how to, and in the second half at Celtic Park yesterday, Derry were certainly struggling with the concept of victory.

In recent years, lots of people, including myself, have been looking for linesmen and umpires to get more involved in assisting referees with making disciplinary calls.

Los Angeles Clippers players staged a protest at a play-off game on Sunday against racist comments allegedly made by team owner Donald Sterling, turning their warm-up jerseys inside out to hide the team name before a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Dublin 3-19 Derry 1-10

Dereck Chisora claimed a unanimous points victory over Kevin Johnson at the Copper Box to put himself on a collision course with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.

Ambrose Rogers, Conor Laverty and Championship debutant Niall Madine has been named in the Down team for Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final against Derry at Celtic Park (throw-in 2pm).

Reading Ronan O’Gara explain the timing of his retirement in these pages the other day, it reminded us of the outlook of another Cork sporting legend on the end game.

New data shows mortgage lenders are increasingly entering into more realistic repayment arrangements with struggling customers.

AS their roles come under even greater scrutiny a course has been developed to train credit union directors and supervisors.

MIKE ‘The Rebel’ Perez has set his sights on winning a world heavyweight title.

THE three Cuban boxers based in Cork are all set to relaunch their careers under new management.

BANKS racked up losses of almost €23 million last year because people were unable to pay their credit card bills.

MEMBERS of the Credit Union Development Association (CUDA) told a Dáil committee yesterday it believes the regulation of credit unions should stay within the framework of the existing Central Bank/Department of Finance structure.

CREDIT unions in difficulty should merge with larger operations according to a plan proposed for the movement.

THE father of a man murdered as he confronted a mob outside his home has spoken of his dismay after his family was turned down for compensation because his son was judged to have contributed to his own death.

NEARLY 80% of SSIA holders continue to save after their accounts have matured, according to EBS research.

Homeowners are being advised to properly safeguard their property for the winter months.

Irish golfers Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell have made the cut, but remain well off the pace after the second round of the Honda Classic in Florida.

Microsoft Corp, the world's number one software company, has said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Ministry of Information Industry (MII), under which it will set up Windows .NET-based technology laboratories in China.

THE Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland confirmed last night it is investigating complaints from angry consumers about the latest EBS adverts for mortgages.