Bank of Ireland provided €1 billion in new mortgage lending to customers last year, accounting for about 40 per cent of total mortgage lending in Ireland in 2012.

Almost 90 per cent of home loans were to customers buying their first property or moving to a new home, the bank said in a statement.

Bank of Ireland also reported that the value of new mortgage lending in the second half of 2012 represented a 65 per cent increase over the first six months.

On a year-on-year basis, new mortgage lending in the third quarter of 2012 was up 7 per cent, the first quarter since the final three months of 2006 to deliver growth.

The average mortgage amount for first-time buyers was €153,000, with the large majority of homes in Dublin and commuter counties.

Bank director of consumer banking, Jonathan Byrne, believes the figures indicate a steady improvement.

“We are delighted to have lent over €1 billion in mortgage funds to customers during 2012. We are seeing early and positive signs of improving consumer confidence and an increasing desire to purchase a home amongst our customers.”