Bank of Scotland (Ireland) is a bank in the Republic of Ireland owned by HBOS plc. The company does not have a widespread high street retail banking operation, but instead specialises in business and corporate banking. It also operates a direct mortgages sales business.

The company was founded in 1965 as Equity Bank Limited. In the early 1990s, it was purchased by the Bank of Scotland. Later, the parent company established its own brand in the Irish market through the direct sales of mortgages from Edinburgh. Following this, it was decided to rebrand the existing Irish operation as Bank of Scotland (Ireland) in 2000.

In 2001, the bank purchased ICC Bank plc from the State. This company, originally established as the Industrial Credit Company, and later known as Industrial Credit Corporation plc, was set up in 1933 by Sean Lemass in the Irish Free State to encourage investment in industry, the company was modelled on the Agricultural Credit Corporation (now called ACCBank).

In 2004, the company took over the direct mortgage sales business from its parent company, and moved it to Dublin. Major new offices were also opened in a brand new building in Limerick, named "Bank of Scotland House" (formerly the site of the Carlton Cinema).

In 2005, the company announced that it is to take over the ESB's ShopElectic chain of retail outlets, and turn them into high street banks. This will make the company the fourth-largest bank in the Republic of Ireland, with 52 branches.

See Also

• List of Irish companies

External link

• Bank of Scotland (Ireland)