Bank of Ireland Group said it expected to post its 13th consecutive year of profit growth when it reports full-year results on May 13.
In a pre-close trading statement this morning, the bank said all its divisions had performed well and that it expected to report mid to high single digit percentage growth in pre-tax profit before exceptionals.
Excluding the impact of the Government levy on banks and the effect of the strengthening euro on the translation of its UK profits, the bank said its underlying growth in earnings per share is expected to be a low double digit percentage increase.
'The continued upturn in world equity markets has had a positive influence on both our Asset Management and Life and Pensions businesses,' the statement added.
It said its loan book continues to benefit from the benign economic and interest rate environments in its main markets and predicted that these conditions will prevail for the year ahead.
Bank of Ireland said it expected an exceptional charge of £65m sterling for the write down of the remainder of the goodwill associated with the bank's Chase de Vere operation.
Bank of Ireland said its retail operations in the Republic were expected to report good growth in profits and strong volume increases, with asset quality continuing to be very satisfactory and costs well contained. 'Reported profits for the year are expected to grow by a mid to high single digit percentage over the previous year,' it said.
Lending volumes are expected to increased by a high teens percentage with mortgage lending showing a very strong high 20s percentage growth.
Bank of Ireland Life is predicting that its pre-tax profits will be strong ahead on the previous year due to rising equity markets. Operating profits will be flat, reflecting a strong recovery from the half year position.
The bank's Wholesale Financial Services sector is expected to report a low single digit percentage increase in pre-tax profits, while its Corporate Banking's profit is expected to be similar to last year.
The UK Financial Services division expects to report a single high digit percentage increase in profits before goodwill and taxation.
'We believe we are well positioned to harness the positive business trends we see in our main markets and to continue to grow profits in the future,' said Bank of Ireland's Group Chief Executive Michael Soden.
Bank of Ireland shares closed up 29 cent at €10.59 in Dublin.
