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class="MsoNormal"> style="font-weight: bold;">Bank of Ireland style="font-weight: bold;"> and ICS Building style="font-weight: bold;"> Society are to increase all variable mortgage interest rates by 0.5%.

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class="MsoNormal">The increase will mean that homeowners with a €100,000 mortgage over 25 years will see their monthly payments increase by around €27.

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class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile it has also emerged that Bank of Ireland current account holders are facing additional bank charges unless they maintain a balance of €3,000.

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class="MsoNormal">The money will not earn any interest while it is in the account.

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class="MsoNormal">The change comes into effect on November 19th.

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class="MsoNormal">It has been criticised by the National Consumer Agency (NCA).

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class="MsoNormal">The body has advised consumers to shop around.

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