Dubliner, Mr Martin Wilson, takes over as chief executive of Ulster Bank at a time when public confidence in the banking sector is at an all-time low. Recent allegations of overcharging by National Irish Bank will make his endeavours to expand and develop the bank all the more difficult. But he insists that the actions of one bank should not be allowed to damage the integrity of others.

"I think I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't worried. But what I find unfortunate is that the integrity of a whole industry is being called into question because of problems with one constituent part of that industry."

Mr Wilson says his primary objective in his new role is to develop the trust and understanding of the bank's customers so as to be able to anticipate and service their needs. "It would be wrong to say this is less difficult to do now than it would have been six months ago," he admits.

Ulster Bank has come under the spotlight itself amid the wave of allegations being levied by the public against banks, building societies and other institutions in recent weeks. A branch in Waterford is at the centre of an investigation by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation after certain anomalies in records came to light during an internal audit. Mr Wilson stresses that unlike the NIB allegations, this investigation does not involve the misappropriation of any money belonging to customers. "The anomalies are all to do with the bank's own records and one of our staff members has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation," he says.

Acknowledging the problems that occasionally arise throughout the banking sector, Mr Wilson says there will always be the risk of fraud where cash transactions are concerned. "While I wouldn't like to say that this is normal in any industry but where you are dealing with liquid assets you are always running the risk of problems with your staff and the controls around which you base your business."

He says he is satisfied that the bank's own internal audit functions are strong, and that where problems are identified they are swiftly followed up by its most senior executives.

Referring to the hundreds of complaints about overcharging and other practices by the financial institutions that have been made by members of the public to the Garda and to the Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr Wilson says he is so far unaware of any complaints against Ulster Bank.

"We are co-operating fully with the Director of Consumer Affairs' inspections but I am not aware of any problems that exist at the moment." Mr Wilson says from the reports he has read the investigations have found "nothing untoward" within the banking sector as yet.

"We have no problem with the Director of Consumer Affairs having an input to the way we deal and interact with customers. The way of the world is that consumers need protection in most of their transactions with institutions and with companies irrespective of whether they are banks or not and we have no problem with that."

He also praises the role of the Central Bank as regulator of the industry, maintaining that its actions throughout the years have been very effective.

"We have met with the Central Bank from a supervisory point of view at least annually and sometimes twice a year and we provide them with whatever information they need. And of course if they so desire to come in at the drop of a hat and inspect our records that's not a problem. We have worked in that environment for a long time."

Mr Wilson believes the NIB affair ultimately reflects badly on Ireland, showing another breach of public faith. "I think the saddest thing about the whole issue really is one for Ireland Inc where there is another instance of a breach of faith. We've had beef tribunals and political scandals and we just seem to move from one problem to another. I find that depressing."

On a more optimistic note, Wilson is looking forward to a bright future in economic terms in Northern Ireland, if the newly brokered peace deal holds. "It is an exciting time to be taking over as the process will hopefully give a whole new impetus to business in Northern Ireland," he says. In the Republic he will be keeping an eye out for potential acquisitions. He has always been in favour of expanding the bank's branch network, North and South.

Noted for a good eye for a deal Mr Wilson was the bank's chief negotiator when it purchased NCB stockbrokers for £20 million in 1994 he says the scope for acquisition in the Irish market is limited. With TSB Bank now off the market, Mr Wilson says that while he would like to be able to conclude a deal within the next year, this will only happen at the right price.

He accepts that NIB could be an acquisition target for Ulster if it were to come on the market. While there would be some overlap in certain areas of the two bank's activities, he says that at least a third of NIB's branches would be in areas where Ulster Bank does not have a presence. "The overlap wouldn't be so tremendous that it wouldn't make some sense," Mr Wilson says.

Other banks that Ulster might consider would be ICC Bank and Anglo Irish Bank, he adds. "Both of those banks are in the small business sector where we already have a very strong presence. But while it is a very important sector to us and a sector that we want to grow and concentrate on, it wouldn't be the sector of immediate concern to us.

"That's not to say that if the price were right we wouldn't be interested in looking at those businesses."

Mr Wilson says he is settling in well in Belfast. After years of travelling between Dublin and Belfast on bank business, he says he got to know people and he is enjoying the new surroundings.

However, the new job has taken a toll on his golf. When he was appointed chief executive designate last year, he reported a handicap of seven.

A year later he says he is now playing off eight, and fears the situation could deteriorate further in the years ahead. He has now joined a golf club in Belfast in a bid to halt the decline.