Employment in the banking sector is expected to top 31,000 by the end of the year, a 6 per cent increase on last year and a 58 per cent rise on the number employed at the start of the decade, according to the Irish Bankers' Federation (IBF). The latest banking industry statistics show strong growth in other aspects of the industry. Last year, some 105 million ATM transactions were conducted, up from 44 million in 1991 while the value of such transactions rose to £5.7 billion (€7.2 billion) from £2.0 billion. Credit card transactions totalled 47 million, up from 18 million at the start of the decade, while they were worth £2.7 billion against £0.8 billion in 1991, the IBF said.