Anglo to post loss of €17.6 billion

Anglo Irish Bank said today it expects to report a loss of €17

Anglo Irish Bank said today it expects to report a loss of €17.6 billion for 2010, setting a new record for Irish corporate history.

The spectacular figure exceeds the €12.8 billion Anglo lost during the 15 months to the end of December 2009 and compares with the €31.75 billion that was Ireland's total tax take during 2010.

During the year the State pumped an extra €17 billion into the now nationalised bank.

The bank issued unaudited figures for its 2010 performance today that showed its customer deposits dropped by almost 60 per cent, to €11.1 billion, from the €27.2 billion that was on deposit at the beginning of 2010.

The bank is dependent on funds from the Irish and European Central Bank and had borrowings of €45 billion from them at the end of the year.

After it has completed transferring loans to the National Asset Management Agency, the remaining loans in Anglo will be approximately €35.8 billion in nominal value, against which the bank is making provision of €8.8 billion. At its peak, Anglo had loans to customers worth a nominal €73 billion.

Support from the State had reached €25.3 billion by the end of the year, allowing the bank stay within capital requirements set by the Central Bank.

Colm Keena

Colm Keena

Colm Keena is an Irish Times journalist. He was previously legal-affairs correspondent and public-affairs correspondent