ISME calls for new bank to compete with AIB and BoI
Small companies are expressing concern at a deterioration in banking competition.
ISME, their representative body, called on the Government to create a "third-force bank" to tackle what is says is the duopoly of AIB and Bank of Ireland.
The call comes in a new survey from the group which shows an improvement in the level of bank credit to small companies.
ISME's CEO Mark Fielding said that, as competition gets tighter, lending was likely to become more expensive.
"With the number of banks reducing all the time (and Bank of Scotland Ireland closing down)…we'd be calling for a third force to compete…Otherwise, we will have a general increase in bank interest and charges for small businesses over the coming number of years," he said.
