A Sligo campaigner for reform in the banking system says people here are paying over the odds because of lack of competition.
Seamus Maye, of the Public Banking Forum of Ireland, was reacting to claims by the biggest mortgage lender in Germany that there is political resistance to it entering the market here.
Mr Maye and his group are calling for greater community banking in Ireland, similar to public savings bank Sparkasse in Germany.
He says we already have the structures in place for a similar banking system here with the presence of credit unions and post offices.
Sparkasse provides about half of all German mortgages and is known for its support of small and medium businesses.
Mr Maye says such a bank could play a key role here:
