Bank of Ireland has today announced that agriculture is the largest standalone sector within their Business Banking Portfolio, comprising 10% of overall permissions (including unutilised overdrafts). 
 
The bank claims that it has approved a total of €580 million for the agriculture sector (to end of October) - an increase of 13% over previous year. 
 
Speaking to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine today, Director of Business Banking at Bank of Ireland, Mark Cunningham commented, "The importance of agriculture to Bank of Ireland is particularly evident in the branches located in many of the smaller towns which rely most on the agricultural economy.

"Agriculture-related lending typically represents over 60% of all business lending which originates in our rurally based branches."

Source: www.businessworld.ie