Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform
Overview of Financial Sector: Discussion with Ulster Bank
2:45 pm
Mr. Jim Brown:
It depends on two key factors. One factor is what happens to the cost of funds over that period. If the cost of deposits rises, then I would expect that the rate could rise. The other key factor is what happens in terms of ongoing credit losses. We believe right now that steps that are being taken with the Code of Conduct for Mortgage Arrears and to make changes to the Dunne ruling have clearly helped banks in their ability to collect on loans and arrears, etc., but if those tools had not been there, then it is likely that arrears could have continued to stay elevated and, therefore, the cost of those mortgages could have gone up. That aside, right now the key determinant for us is what happens to the cost of funds over the next 12 months.
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