The Bank of Ireland Group is to create 149 high-value jobs in Northern Ireland's financial services sector over the next five years.
Bank of Ireland group's head office in Dublin
The bank today announced a multimillion-pound expansion in the offshore investment sector, with the setting up of a Belfast-based centre focusing on the administration of hedge funds.
The jobs will be available to people with an accountancy and legal background. Invest Northern Ireland has ploughed £2 million sterling into the initiative, which was announced by Stormont First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at an event in Belfast today.
Mr Paisley said the setting up of the new centre was a major vote of confidence for the sector in Northern Ireland.
Brian Goggin, chief executive of the Bank of Ireland Group, said the new centre in Belfast would enable it to expand in a niche investment market.