The Bank of Ireland has unveiled key updates that reflect its evolving role in nation’s financial services industry.
As the nation grapples with economic pressures, sustainability demands, and rising cyber threats, these developments highlight the bank’s proactive stance.
From expanding green financing for farmers to bolstering physical branches and addressing online fraud, Bank of Ireland is positioning itself as a partner for businesses and individuals.
A major highlight is the nationwide rollout of Enviroflex loans to all dairy farms, facilitated by new partnerships with agricultural cooperatives.
Announced recently, this initiative partners Bank of Ireland with Boherbue Co-op in Cork, Callan Co-op in Kilkenny, and Centenary Co-op in Tipperary, bringing the total number of Co-op collaborations to 16.
These alliances make the sustainability-linked loans accessible to over 17,000 dairy farmers, integrating seamlessly with each Co-op’s environmental schemes backed by Teagasc and Bord Bia Origin Green.
Enviroflex loans, ranging from €10,000 to €500,000, offer a discounted variable interest rate of 4.49% for farmers adopting eco-friendly practices.
Unsecured options go up to €120,000 over a standard seven-year term, with longer periods available for secured lending.
Funds can support vital upgrades like animal housing, milking parlours, nutrient management facilities such as slurry tanks, renewable energy installations like solar panels, and TAMS grant-eligible machinery.
The product’s popularity has surged, with application values doubling from €30 million to €60 million in the past six months since its November 2023 launch.
This aligns with the bank’s Sustainable Finance Framework, which has committed €15 billion to green initiatives by the end of 2025.
Eoin Lowry, Head of Agri Sector at Bank of Ireland, emphasized the landmark impact:
“These new partnerships establish a landmark for the Enviroflex product, which is now available across all dairy farms.”
With 82,000 farm customers and over 52% of Ireland‘s agri-lending in 2024, the bank will showcase these options at Stand 185 during the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore from September 16-18, 2025.
Complementing its focus on rural economies, Bank of Ireland is advancing a €7 million branch upgrade program, transforming 24 locations across 14 counties by year-end.
To date, 13 branches have been refurbished, including sites in Clare (Kilrush), Cork (Ballincollig, Blackpool), Donegal (Ballyshannon, Donegal town), among others.
Enhancements prioritize accessibility and safety, featuring dedicated spaces for vulnerable or neurodiverse customers, improved wheelchair ramps—such as the new level access in Donegal town.
This effort is part of a broader €60 million investment in branch networks and ATMs, with 118 new machines installed across 30 sites.
Susan Russell, CEO of Bank of Ireland’s Retail Ireland, noted:
“These refurbishments ensure customers enjoy the latest technology and accessible, comfortable spaces.”
This reaffirms the bank’s dedication to essential services amid digital shifts.
On the leadership front, Bank of Ireland has appointed June Butler as Head of Corporate and SME Banking, effective immediately.
Butler, who previously served as the bank’s Head of SME Banking and Sectors until 2021, brings expertise from her current role as CEO of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), where she has driven funding for SMEs.
She will oversee a team of 200 colleagues supporting 3,000 companies, managing relationships with private firms, multinationals, publicly quoted entities, and the Foreign Direct Investment team.
John Feeney, Chief Executive of the Corporate and Commercial Banking division, praised her strategic acumen:
“June’s deep expertise… will be invaluable in supporting business customers amidst global market volatility, technological change, and sustainability imperatives.”
Amid these positive strides, Bank of Ireland is sounding the alarm on online fraud, calling for urgent regulatory action to safeguard consumers.
Susan Russell, also President of the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), highlighted the billions lost globally to scams via texts, apps, calls, and fake social media ads, which devastate victims’ savings and pensions.
She urged the Irish Government to mandate full SMS scam filters—proven effective elsewhere—and reform the EU’s Digital Services Act to curb vanishing scam content.
Platforms should verify financial advertisers’ regulatory authorization, and EU trilogues on the Payment Services Directive must prioritize scam prevention, especially for retail investing.
As a Mobey Forum member, the bank continues its long-standing fraud-fighting legacy, dating back to 19th-century secure notes.
These updates collectively demonstrate Bank of Ireland‘s multifaceted approach: fostering sustainable agriculture, enhancing community infrastructure, strengthening leadership, and combating digital risks.
With Ireland’s economy at a crossroads, such initiatives not only drive growth but also aim to build trust in an increasingly uncertain environment.