Mortgage accounts now accessible online

Irish homeowners will be able to access their mortgage accounts online in a new service introduced by the Mortgage Store, a chain…

Irish homeowners will be able to access their mortgage accounts online in a new service introduced by the Mortgage Store, a chain of 10 mortgage outlets owned by ICS Building Society.

Up to 12,000 existing Mortgage Store customers will be able to check their mortgage account details, including mortgage balance, transaction history and interest payable. Customers can order statements or request to make repayment changes.

New customers can also track the status of their mortgage application online, while existing customers can apply for top-up mortgages or release equity from the value of their homes. However, ICS Building Society, which is owned by Bank of Ireland, said it would prevent customers from extending the term or size of their mortgage at the click of a button.

The service stops short of allowing customers to make instant changes to repayments or to conduct their entire application process online.

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For legal reasons, paper documentation is posted to applicants' addresses at their request.

"Customers will not and cannot be able to make decisions that affect their mortgage without having the opportunity to discuss it," said Mr Paul Mitchell, business analyst at the Mortgage Store's customer relationship unit.

Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery

Laura Slattery is an Irish Times journalist writing about media, advertising and other business topics