The Bank of Ireland Group expects to post its 13th consecutive year of profit growth when it reports full-year results in May, the bank said this morning.
The bank said all its divisions had performed well and that it expected to report mid- to high single-digit percentage growth in pre-tax profit before exceptionals and in earnings per share (EPS) after tax, exceptionals and goodwill.
"We believe we are well positioned to harness the positive business trends we see in our main markets and to continue to grow profits in the future," the bank said in a trading statement ahead of the end of its financial year on March 31st.
It said that after stripping out the effect of tax levies and the impact of a stronger euro on translation of profits from its British operations, it expected low double-digit underlying growth in EPS after tax, exceptionals and goodwill.
It said it had enjoyed good volume growth both in Ireland - where it derives the bulk of its profit - and Britain and that an upturn in global equity markets had benefited both its asset management and life & pensions markets.
The bank is due to report full-year results on May 13th.