AIB has apologised after it emerged that some of its customers may have been refused loans after it gave inaccurate information to the Irish Credit Bureau over a period of 6 years.

Up to 12,000 customers may have been affected by the error.

It was not rectified until last month although it was first reported to the Data Protection Commissioner in May.

The bank has apologised for the mistake which was only made public today.

AIB says it is customers who were in arrears on loans to the bank who have been hit.

The bank says it has written to them with details of a helpline and has offered to request a new copy of an I.C.B. statement for any affected customer at AIB’s expense.

The Deputy Data Protection Commissioner Gary Davis says an investigation is underway.