New Credit Union Lending Limits to Triple House and Business Lending Capacity
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions, and Insurance Robert Troy TD have today (15/08/2025) welcomed the Feedback Statements and draft amending regulations published by the Central Bank of Ireland following their review of the existing Credit Union lending regulations.
The Central Bank of Ireland has undertaken a detailed analysis and significant consultation with stakeholders.
One of the principal changes is the adjustments to the credit union lending limits for house and business lending. These proposed changes will provide an opportunity to the credit union sector to expand and diversify their loan books into house lending and business lending. Based on the sector’s total assets of €22.05 billion, the sector will now have capacity to advance €6.61 billion in house lending and €3.30 billion in business lending.
Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, commented:
“I welcome the proposed changes to the lending framework that the Central Bank of Ireland has published together with the feedback statements on consultation paper 159.
This review included significant consultation with credit union stakeholders. The Minister of State with responsibility for credit unions and my officials had multiple constructive and open engagements with the Central Bank of Ireland and credit union stakeholders as part of that review.
I am particularly pleased with the increased lending capacity which will allow credit unions to expand and diversify their loan books and provide more of the services their members need.
I would like to thank the Central Bank of Ireland and all those who responded to the public consultation and who engaged with my Department during the course of this review.”
Minister of State for Credit Unions, Robert Troy TD, welcomed the news saying:
“The changes to the regulations announced by the Central Bank of Ireland mean credit unions will be able to compete more effectively in the mortgage and business lending market. I have had the pleasure of meeting many credit unions across the country, and they are important, trusted financial services providers to many communities around Ireland.
The amendment of these regulations reflects the competence and capability of credit unions to grow their respective loan books in a prudent manner, and to futureproof their offering to support home owners and businesses
This is a big step forward for the credit union movement in Ireland and I look forward to seeing the sector continue to support the needs of their members.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
In late 2023 the Central Bank of Ireland undertook a review of the changes to the lending framework introduced in 2020. The purpose of this review was to assess and analyse the impact of changes introduced to the lending framework in 2020 and to inform on the need for any future change.
The output of this review was published in December 2024 and included a report detailing proposals for targeted changes to the credit union lending regulations and a consultation on the proposed changes (CP159).
These submissions were all broadly supportive of the proposed changes to the lending regulations with some changes requested on business lending limits and the definition of “house loan” to include second home purchases.
On foot of this consultation, the Central Bank of Ireland has amended their proposed regulations. A summary of the main changes is below.
Based on sector Total Assets of €22.05 billion, these proposed changes will allow the sector to advance €6.61 billion in house lending and €3.30 billion in business lending.
An overview of the main changes proposed is summarised below:
- Increasing the lending limit for house lending to 30% of total assets,
- Increasing the lending limit for business lending to 15% of total assets,
- Decoupling of the concentration limits for house lending and business lending,
- Removing the various tiers based on asset sizes,
- Removing the need for a business plan for business loans of more than €25,000,
- Increasing the related parties’ exempt exposures threshold amount to €10,000,
- Introduction of a 2.5% sublimit within the 30% house lending limit for second home purchases,
- Technical amendments relating to Approved Housing Body definitions to maintain credit unions’ ability to lend to members that are AHBs
These amending regulations are expected to commence by end Q3 2025.