The volume and value of personal loan drawdowns hit another record in 2024 as consumers borrowed to fund car purchases, home improvements and holidays against a backdrop of falling interest rates.

On Friday, Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI), the main lobbying body for the banking sector in the Republic, said non-mortgage, personal loan activity surged to the highest levels since 2020, when its data series began. Ian Curran has the details.

“I am baffled by all the companies doing an about-face on their social initiatives right now. Did you not actually mean it in the first place? Either don’t do it, or do it and stay doing it, but don’t do this ‘DEI is cancelled now. It’s very odd to me.” Stripe co-founder John Collison speaks to Ciara O’Brien in our Interview of the Week slot.