The chief executive of Permanent TSB has said people will face 'some difficult situations' ahead.
Eamonn Crowley was speaking as the country grapples with the cost of living and energy crisis.
He told Breakfast Business the bank is willing to talk to people in financial difficulty.
"Arising from the crisis we had a team of experienced professionals who were dealing with customers who had mortgage difficulties.
"It's something that we're still very tuned to, that team is still in place - we didn't dismantle that team.
"And we watch it on an ongoing basis and indeed try to work with customers around supporting them".
He said this can also be the case for people's day-to-day spending, such as overdrafts.
"For instance, we would look at putting customers on to a more long-term loan, which would have a lower rate.
"And we would encourage customers to come and talk to us around spreading our their repayments, or spreading out that debt.
"But saying that, there will be some difficult situations - there's no doubt about it.
"How families support each other in that respect, because it tends to be a time when you seek support within your own family - or indeed with Government supports as well.
"But the bank, as an initial contact, we're ready willing and open to discuss those challenges with customers".
Asked about the cap on bankers pay, Mr Crowley said: "I think there's an over-focus on the pay cap, in that the pay cap itself really only affects a small amount of individuals in the banking sector".
'More expensive to run a smaller country'
He was also asked whether Irish people are paying too much personal income tax.
"I think it's a feature of the size of the economy, the size of the employment base.
"I think it's important everyone should pay some tax, no matter what.
"If you look at the - I think it's the top 5% of earners pay 40% of tax - so it's quite progressive in that respect.
"Personally I'd rather not pay anymore tax, I think I pay sufficiently.
"I think we have to be conscious of the size of the country, and the size of the employee base we have there.
"It is more expensive to run a smaller country, if you understand, you don't have the economies of scale.
"If you take Poland at 40 million - population - tax rates are lower in that country", he added.
Start your Friday by listening to Breakfast Business with @JoeBLynam, where he talks to Eamonn Crowley, CEO of Permanent TSB.
He asks Eamonn whether Irish people are paying too much personal income tax🗣 🔽— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) September 16, 2022
Listen back to the full interview here:
