The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), in partnership with Bank of Ireland, announced the Irish Motor Industry Award Winners at the prestigious Clayton Hotel in Dublin on Thursday, 19th February.

Marty Whelan, master of ceremonies, revealed the winners in front of over 700 senior figures in the Motor Industry. Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, and Vinny Coghlan, Head of Asset and Motor Finance, Bank of Ireland, presented the awards.

An independent panel adjudicated the winners in six award categories, highlighting excellence and best practices in the Irish Motor Industry over the past year.

Category Award Winners include:
– Bodyshop of the Year: Collision Experts Galway East

– Vehicle Recovery Operator of the Year: Cartow.ie, Dublin

– Independent Sales Operation of the Year: Ashford Motors, Wicklow

– Independent Aftersales Operation of the Year: Service Stop Ltd, Dublin

– Franchised Aftersales Operation of the Year: Fitzpatrick’s Garage, Kildare

– Franchised Sales Operation of the Year: Fitzpatrick’s Garage Mercedes-Benz, Kildare

SIMI President Mark Woods congratulated this year’s award winners and nominees. Acknowledging the wide, diverse, and wonderful businesses that form the Irish Motor Industry.

Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) also announced the regional winners of the ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year awards. These awards recognise and reward excellence in the promotion and sale of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland.

ZEVI EV Dealership of the Year Regional Award Winners include:

– Fred Kilmartin Ltd Co. Galway, (Connacht)

– Fitzpatrick’s Garage, Naas, Co. Kildare (Leinster)

– Nyhan Motors. Co. Cork (Munster)

– Connolly’s Volkswagen Letterkenny Co. Donegal (Ulster)

Mr. Woods commented, “The automotive industry is undergoing a dramatic transformation. The shift to battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles is an exciting moment for our sector. Change on this scale brings increased costs, new regulatory demands, and a different way of doing business. This decarbonisation transition will be delivered through a combination of technologies: electric and hybrid vehicles, low-carbon fuels, and ongoing efficiency improvements across the entire fleet. Managing this transformation requires coordinated action from policymakers, infrastructure providers, energy suppliers, and industry, so that emissions continue to fall while maintaining affordable, practical, and accessible mobility for consumers and for businesses.”

Vinny Coghlan, Head of Asset and Motor Finance, Bank of Ireland, “Bank of Ireland is delighted to continue our sponsorship of the SIMI Irish Motor Industry Awards. 2026 marks our 10th year of sponsorship, and this event serves as a reminder of the relentless dedication to customer excellence shown across every stage of the motor customer journey in the industry. Supporting the motor industry remains a key element of our strategy in Bank of Ireland, and we look forward to evolving and enhancing our customer journey to meet the needs of this dynamic sector.”

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• Customers then duped into transferring their money to a fake ‘safe account’
• Spike in reports and calls over a 24-hour period ten times the weekly number up to mid-April
• Urgent reminder to customers:  Bank of Ireland will never ask you to move your money to another account to keep it safe.

Bank of Ireland is warning customers about a dramatic increase this week in reports and cases of an attempted ‘safe account’ scam.  Customers should be on particular alert for fraudulent texts that attempt to lure them into to calling a fake ‘bank’ phoneline – where the account holder is then duped into transferring funds to their secondary account, in most cases Revolut, and in turn a ‘safe account’, which is controlled by a fraudster.

Reports of the scam to Bank of Ireland’s fraud line and Text Checker service have been on the increase since the start of the year and this week have shown an alarming increase, with daily reports this week over 10 times the number of those reported weekly in April and May.

How it works:

• Customer gets a text message to their phone, requesting that they call a phone number about a suspicious transaction/or activity.

• The texts claim to be from Bank of Ireland and can drop into the thread of a genuine BOI text: “Did you login from a new device?”; “Do you recognise this transaction?”; or “A transaction for [value] to [merchant] was declined and your card has been placed on hold“  – followed by “if this was not you / if you don’t recognise this / etc. please call us back on [callback phone number].
• Callback numbers are usually landline numbers including 01 / 1800 / regional codes.
• The callback number will be answered by someone claiming to be from Bank of Ireland, and that there has been suspicious transactions and the customer’s account is  compromised.
• The victim is then asked if they have a Revolut / or other secondary account.  If they say yes, they are told that they should move all the money in their BOI account into their own Revolut account/ or secondary account.  The fraudster doesn’t ask for access to the customer’s account, and do not ask for any security details like PIN’s or codes – avoiding common ‘red flags’ associated with fraud.
• The victim is then told they then need to move their money from their Revolut account to a new ‘safe’ account.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: “We have been seeing a concerning pattern in the increase of this type of fraud.  This week’s escalation has resulted in the highest number of reports in a single day of this particular type of fraud, so we need our customers and the general public to be vigilant and recognise the warning signs.  Our main advice is to look out for these texts and do not call back.  And remember that Bank of Ireland will never ask you to move your money to another account to keep it safe.  If you think you have been a victim of fraud, call the bank’s fraud team immediately on the 24/7 freephone line 1800 946 764”.

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Biometric logins continue to increase in popularity – up 41%

 Analysis of Bank of Ireland customer behaviour during the first three months of 2025 revealed that contactless payments rose while ATM usage was down compared to the same period in 2024.

eCommerce contactless transactions (digital wallets, Apple Pay / Google Pay) increased by 3%, with contactless ‘tap and go’ payments rising 1% compared to Q1 2024. Over 3 million eCommerce and ‘tap and go’ contactless payments took place on 28 February, making it the busiest day during the first quarter. While contactless payment levels increased, the number of ATM transactions fell 11% compared with Q1 last year, partly driven by the busy Easter period not falling in the first quarter this year.

Biometric logins to the mobile banking app continue to grow in popularity, up 41% for Q1 compared to the same three months in 2024. Over 12 million biometric logins were recorded in total during January, February, and March 2025, whilst logins via the traditional ‘3 of 6’ PIN method fell by 10%.

On Thursday, 27 March over 1.5 million digital banking logins were recorded across Bank of Ireland’s iOS and Android mobile apps, the busiest day in Q1. Digital logins to the Mobile app increased by 1% for Q1 2025 from Q1 2024, despite Easter coming later this year – the busiest day in Q1 2024 was during Easter holidays on Holy Thursday.

Ciarán Coyle, Group Chief Operating Officer, Bank of Ireland said: “Our continued investment in our digital banking services ensures that our customers can bank with speed and flexibility – wherever they are. As a full-service retail bank, we will continue providing our customers with a full suite of banking options, continuously improving the capabilities of our digital banking channels, whilst also investing and providing enhanced services across our branch network.

“While cash remains popular with many, it’s clear that customers are embracing seamless and secure ways to manage their finances, with a shift towards digital-first banking behaviours. The continued growth in digital banking usage highlights the evolving preferences of many of our customers, who are increasingly choosing the speed, convenience, and security of our mobile banking and payment services.”

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On April 1,  Bank of Ireland warned customers that fraudsters don’t just try to fool you for one day, they are always active and financial fraud can lead to devastating loss of income and savings. The Bank is reminding customers about the top ten fraud types currently reported to its 24/7 fraud team.

Fraud is no laughing matter and everyday sees more people falling victim to some scam.

According to Bank of Ireland’s fraud reporting data, the most concerning fraud type being used to target customers is investment scams, with smishing texts and vishing calls following closely behind. Further down the list, yet becoming more prevalent, are malware attacks where fraudsters gain access to customers’ devices and access private information, including their banking app.

The 10 most commonly reported frauds are:

1. Investment scams – promising higher returns on investments that don’t exist.
2. Smishing texts – scam texts claiming to be from delivery companies and other providers urging you to pay outstanding charges or update account details.
3. Vishing calls – fraudsters pretend to be from your bank, saying your account has been compromised and they need to move your money to a ‘safe account’.
4. Purchase scams – fake adverts on genuine websites and social media platforms that promise a slashed price or bargain.
5. Romance scams – fraudsters build relationships online to manipulate victims into sending them money.
6. Family impersonation – fake messages pretending to be from a family member who has lost their phone and needs access to money.
7. Rental and holiday scams – fraudsters trick people into paying rent for property that doesn’t exist or is not actually available to rent.
8. Money mules – criminals try to recruit people into receiving stolen money into their account, then transfer it to another account and keep some of the cash for themselves as ‘payment’.
9. Malware – harmful apps that ask for full control of your device allowing fraudsters to control your phone and access private information like your banking app.
10. Phishing emails – fraudsters send emails that look like they’re from legitimate companies, asking for personal information or login credentials.

Nicola Sadlier, Head of Fraud, Bank of Ireland said: “Fraudsters don’t just try to fool you for one day, they never take a break and are always on. Our latest fraud reporting data shows that investment fraud is still the most concerning scam targeting our customers. The level of highly personalised targeting, with fraudsters promising higher returns on bogus schemes, continues to grow. Smishing texts and vishing attempts continue on a persistent basis. Fraudulent advertisements online and on social media have been the subject of regular warnings for some time and the trend is not going away. And some new types of fraud including accessing devices using malware are happening more often.

“All fraud types are serious criminal activity and there is no room for complacency. Being alert to the ‘red flags’ – including ‘too good to be true’ returns and pressure to act quickly – is vital.

“Bank of Ireland offers a 24/7 fraud telephone support for customers on 1800 946 764, available every day of the year. We encourage our customers to put this number in their phone, so they have easy access to it if they ever need it.”

For detailed advice and information on how to stay safe from all types of financial fraud, visit the Security Zone on Bank of Ireland’s website.

Red flags of Investment Fraud:

• Follow-up calls: You receive a call having clicked an investment product advert on social media or in a sponsored search result.
• Higher/fast returns: They promise a quick and profitable return, with little or no risk.
• Pressure: They advise you must act quickly to take advantage of an “opportunity of a lifetime”.
• Celebrity Endorsements: Be wary where the investment is being endorsed by celebrities – they may not know their name is attached to the advertisement.
• Secrecy: They say you’re not to discuss the “investment” with family, friends or your bank and they may instruct you to sign a “non-disclosure agreement” (NDA).

Remember, Bank of Ireland will never:

• Send you a text or email with a link directly to the login page of our online banking channels asking you to confirm or update your banking details
• Ask you to click a link in a message with an urgent warning about suspicious activity on your account
• Ask you to transfer money out of your account to protect you from fraud
• Ask you to send us back your bank card.

Don’t ever share:

• Your full six-digit 365 PIN or Business On Line credentials
• Any one-time activation codes or codes from your Business On Line Approve app
• Your four-digit card PIN.

Anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud should contact their bank immediately so that the bank can try to stop the fraud and try to recover funds. Bank of Ireland customers can call the Fraud Team 24/7 on the Freephone line 1800 946 764.

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Remember, to Stop, Think, Check. If something seems too good to be true it probably is. Never share your personal information like your online banking details or one-time activations codes, with anyone, no matter who they say they are.

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 Dairygold has announced a new partnership with Bank of Ireland to offer the Enviroflex loan package to Dairygold Milk Suppliers. Now available to over a third of all Irish dairy farmers, Enviroflex is designed to support Dairygold Milk Suppliers who are actively engaged in implementing environmentally sustainable initiatives to reduce their farms’ environmental footprint.

A sustainability-linked loan first launched in November 2023, Enviroflex has already proven popular with dairy farmers, with discounted flexible finance provided to farmers conducting milking parlour upgrades, installing wastewater and slurry storage facilities and investing in renewable and solar technologies.

As the leading lender to Ireland’s agriculture industry with over 82,000 farm customers on its books, it also furthers Bank of Ireland’s ambition of providing a range of sustainable finance products that are carefully designed to help make real, impactful changes.

Eligible applicants must be a member of Dairygold Co-Operative Society Limited and be a participant of the Dairygold Grassroots Sustainability Programme. Applicants will be required to provide evidence of participation in the Grassroots programme and will need to agree to provide Bank of Ireland with the carbon footprint of their farm.

General Manager, Dairygold Agri Business Liam O’Flaherty said: “This agreement with Bank of Ireland is another example of the range of supports Dairygold has introduced to enhance our Milk Suppliers farm’s sustainability. We will continue to work with our Milk Suppliers to make the transition to more sustainable farming easier for all involved. Working together with our stakeholders, including Milk Suppliers, Members, Customers and Banks is crucial for us to meet our sustainability targets and make the future of farming more sustainable.”

John Fitzgerald, Bank of Ireland Agri Development Manager “We are delighted with the strong response to Enviroflex since its launch, with farmers accessing it to improve cashflow and finance on-farm developments over a longer period, and we look forward to making this product available to more farmers across the agriculture industry in 2024. Bank of Ireland is the leading lender to Ireland’s agriculture industry and plays a key role in supporting the sector’s transition to lowering its environmental footprint. We welcome Dairygold Milk Suppliers to the Enviroflex scheme, now available to over a third of all Irish dairy farmers.”

Enviroflex is part of Dairygold’s long-standing commitment to working closely with Milk Suppliers to promote the adoption of best practices in various aspects of dairy farming, including quality milk production, financial management, and sustainability.

Financing Package Details:

• The loan amount can range from a minimum of €10,000 to a maximum of €500,000.
• The interest rate is variable and is currently at a discounted market rate of 5.03% per annum, for those participating in the Dairygold Grassroots Sustainability Programme.
• Typically, unsecured loans are available for up to €120,000.
• Standard term of 7 years.

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