Irish consumers borrow record €3 billion in personal loans

Irish households have drawn a record €3 billion in personal loans over the 12 months to the end of March 2026, according to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). Almost 282,000 loans were taken, the highest volume since the data series began in 2020. The surge spanned all categories, with green loans – including electric‑vehicle and home‑improvement financing – rising 22.9% year‑on‑year. Car loans reached a new high of 22,366 loans worth €296 million, while home‑improvement loans increased 12.8% to 17,334, valued at €229 million. Loans for other purposes such as holidays, weddings and education also grew by about 16%. BPFI chief economist Ali Ugur said the broad‑based increase reflects strong demand for green financing and a robust consumer market. Separately, AIB warned customers of a 59% jump in payment‑fraud attempts in July.