SOME HEALTHY COMPETITION

Phew! Fears that KBC – one of few foreign banks adding to competition here – would leave the Irish market have been eased.

The Belgian bank announced it was here to stay as it revealed profits jumped from €75m in 2015 to €227m last year. It also added 70,000 new customers – who would have been none too pleased if the bank upped sticks after luring them onto its books with tempting loan, mortgage and savings offers (see Best Buys).