BoI reveals new gross lending of

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The bank believes this reflects a new focus on certain niche segments, whilst improving returns and maintaining lending quality.

It also noted growth in bespoke mortgage lending, with £0.6bn lending since launch in 2019.

The BoI provided more than 23,000 mortgage payment breaks last year, helping customers affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

It continued to offer a full range of mortgages throughout 2020.

George Higginson, UK mortgages director at Bank of Ireland UK, said: “2020 has been an extraordinary year for the Bank, customers, intermediaries and colleagues.

“We held our focus on improving the customer experience we provide, supported our customers through COVID-19 and enhanced our relationships with our key brokers and partners.

“I want to thank my colleagues whose agility and commitment enabled us to be there continuously for our customers and intermediaries throughout the last year.

“There have been challenges across the mortgage market and like other lenders, we provided over 23,000 mortgage payment breaks to support customers through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am proud that Bank of Ireland continued to offer a full range of mortgages throughout the year providing intermediaries with certainty and continued service delivery.

“For 2021, in light of the vaccine rollout, improving economic conditions and extension of government support schemes, we expect a busy year of mortgage activity.

“We believe intermediaries will remain the bedrock of mortgage activity and will continue to have a strong supportive influence where, in partnership with ourselves, we can help borrowers’ whose circumstances require an expert knowledge of lending criteria and product offerings.

“For Bank of Ireland, we continue to have great success with our bespoke proposition. The positive feedback from the broker market has been very encouraging and confirms there is a need for a lender to take an individual underwriting approach.

“We look forward to continue working and strengthening our relationships with brokers right across the UK.”