Bank of Scotland sees an opportunity in Ireland

Bank of Scotland's Irish subsidiary is to open 46 branches in the next 15 months, going head to head with Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks.

HBOS hopes to win customers from the duo by offering attractive savings products and extended opening hours.

HBOS said the Irish economy was strong, with good prospects for future growth.

Opening gambit

The bank is to open three branches every month across the country over the next fifteen months.

The first three - in Limerick, Ballyfermot and Dun Laoghaire - will open their doors on Wednesday.

We are bringing value for money to customers Mark Duffy, Bank of Scotland

HBOS said its branches would offer "significantly longer" opening hours than their competitors.

They will provide a full range of banking products while a telephone banking service will also be set up.

HBOS bought a number of retail branches from the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland last year.

Building from scratch

Independent research showed that 40% of Irish bank customers would be prepared to switch to banks offering longer hours, HBOS claimed.

"We are building a major Irish retail banking network from scratch in two years, something which has not been done before," said Mark Duffy, chief executive of Bank of Scotland's Irish subsidiary.

"We are bringing value for money to customers. They now have a real alternative to the two big Irish banks."