Research reveals that males are 3 times more likely to have a company car than females

- Bank of Ireland Sign Exclusive Partnership Deal with
Car Buyers Guide

Bank of Ireland, Ireland's largest provider of motor finance, and Car Buyers Guide today, 31 August 2004, announced details of a partnership deal to put motor finance customers in the driving seat. With only 1 in 10 of the working population benefiting from a company car, the need to personally finance the purchase of a car has become an increasing phenomenon. From today, customers who apply for car loans via www.cbg.ie can avail of a special 1% discount on loans over Eur1,000 making this rate one of the most competitive and convenient ways to finance a car.

Research* also revealed that:

Under this exclusive partnership deal with the Car Buyers Guide, Ireland's leading motoring magazine and website, Bank of Ireland will become the sole online finance provider on the dedicated car sales website, www.cbg.ie. Browsers who visit the popular car website can now obtain and quote and arrange their motor finance with Bank of Ireland while choosing from the extensive online car listing.

Commenting on both the research and the partnership announcement, Eddie Ryan, Head of Marketing, Cards and Loans at Bank of Ireland said: "With over 39% of Bank of Ireland's customers having two or more cars per household, we are delighted to be assisting browsers with finance for the purchase of their new or used car. Online applications for motor finance have been increasing dramatically year on year and this is no surprise given the age profile of the majority of our car loan customers. From today, Bank of Ireland will be the sole online finance partner for www.cbg.ie and customers browsing the Car Buyers Guide website can simply click the 'apply now' button to avail of a special 1% discount on our motor loan rates. We have also developed an online calculator facility to assist browsers in determining their monthly repayments".

Bank of Ireland's 'Motorloan' package offers a range of very competitive variable rates from 8.5% APR to 10.7% APR for loans from Eur1,000 and above or fixed rate options from 8.6% APR to 11.0% APR. As an added incentive, customers who apply for a Motorloan via www.cbg.ie can avail of a 1% discount on the fixed and variable motor loan rates making this one of the most competitive and convenient car finance options available.

To facilitate customers seeking motor finance, the www.cbg.ie homepage contains a link through to an introduction page with a finance calculator tool and a motor loan application button. These also feature on the detailed results page for new and used vehicle searches, the most popular areas on the website.

*Research as conducted by W5 Marketing Intelligence / Bank of Ireland Research and Mori MRC.

Date: 31st August 2004

For further information:
Eddie Ryan
Cards and Loans Business
Bank of Ireland
Tel: (01) 617 6055

Mary Brennan
Group Corporate Communications
Bank of Ireland
Tel: (01) 6043838

Sandra Egan
Car Buyers Guide
Tel: (01) 240 5543