Danske Bank made £103m profit in first half of 2024

This year the bank had to set aside £400,000 to cover potential bad loans.

Generally banks have seen a lower level of impaired loans than they expected once interest started rising.

Danske said: “Impairments remain low reflecting the strength of the loan portfolio.”

The bank’s chief executive, Vicky Davies, said they approved £360m of mortgage lending in the half of this year, up over 30% year-on-year.

Housing sales in Northern Ireland have been subdued over the past two years although prices have continued to rise.

Ms Davies said: “Markets are expecting the Bank of England base rate to ease back over the months ahead, and we are anticipating that the healthy level of mortgage lending seen in the first half of the year will continue across the rest of 2024.”