Anglo Irish Bank posted a 41 per cent rise in full-year earnings thanks to strong growth in lending to its business customers.
The bank said it sees 15 per cent growth in underlying earnings per share in 2008.
Underlying EPS for the 12 months to the end of September was 131.7 cents compared with 93.7 cents a year earlier.
The lender to companies in Ireland, Britain and the United States, which also has a wealth management arm, said in a September trading statement it would beat the market's then average forecast of 124 cents by about 5 cents.
Underlying pretax profit rose 44 per cent to €1.22 billion as strong economic growth in Ireland and the business bank's growing presence in Britain and the United States boosted lending 37 per cent on a constant currency basis.
"Our proven organic strategy will continue to deliver strong performance in the years ahead and anticipate underlying earnings per share growth in excess of 15 percent in 2008," Anglo Irish Bank said in a statement.
However, its shares have fallen 37 per cent since the start of this year. Global jitters over the impact of a credit crisis on banks have been compounded in Ireland by an end to a decade-long property boom, slowing economic growth and a weakening market for commercial real estate in neighbouring Britain.
Analysts say more clarity on prospects for next year will be needed if investor confidence in Irish banks is to be restored.
Bank of Ireland posted a 10 per cent rise in first-half earnings earlier this month but shares in the company fell as much as 8 per cent after it trimmed guidance for growth next year and as analysts complained of a lack of visibility.
Anglo Irish said today lending work in progress (WIP) - a barometer of current business and near-term prospects - was €9.8 billion at the end of September versus €9.2 billion at the end of March.