Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 27 September 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach
General Banking Issues: Discussion
Mr. Myles O'Grady:
I am very happy to answer that question. There are a number of components that feed into our overall profitability for H1. In many ways, they reflect some of the strategic decisions we have taken in recent years, whether that is our investment in tech or our restructuring programme to lower costs, which have reduced by 16% compared with a number of years ago. The acquisition of the KBC portfolio and Davy Stockbrokers have improved performance as well. One of the largest factors in improved profitability has been the increase in interest rates. Banks need stable interest rates to generate capital. That capital from those profits is, of course, used to invest in a range of initiatives, including our future technology requirements and being able to support the building of new homes. They are factors. It is a combination of new customers, interest rates, successful acquisitions and a successful transformation programme in recent years.
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