KBC Bank Ireland is to link up with Irish Life to provide a full suite of life insurance products. The bancassurance partnership will see KBC provide mortgage life insurance, term life insurance, life long insurance and income protection to its customers through Irish Life.

The new suite of life insurance products will feature full customer service support and strengthen KBC's existing offering, which includes Over 50s life insurance and simple life insurance. KBC also offers a white label home insurance product through Zurich Insurance.

Dara Deering, executive director and head of retail banking with KBC Bank Ireland, said that the bank's customer base has increased by over 25 per cent this year.

KBC has five branches in Ireland, which it intends to double. It has identified a site in the Grand Canal docks, Dublin, which is likely to open in January. Two more branches are likely in the capital, one in Cork and one in the midlands.