Chairman ArchieKane said the lender is targeting to pay a dividend in respect of its full-year2016 results in the first half of 2017, potentially its first dividend sinceIreland's financial crash, The IrishTimes reported.

Kanetold shareholders at Bank of Ireland's annual general meeting April 28 that thelender will aim for its dividend target "very carefully and veryprudently," according to the April 29 report.

SolicitorBrian O'Donnell, who is calling for a replacement of the bank's board, told themeeting that a website called removeboiboard.com was set up in a bid to realizehis calls, the paper said. A company named Remove BOI Board Ltd. will seekproxy shareholder votes to achieve changes to the lender's board and management.

Bankof Ireland said April 28 that its nonperforming loan volumes by €900 million to €11.1 billionfrom December 2015 to March 2016. Defaulted loans declined by €800 million to€9.8 billion during the period, reflecting ongoing progress in the group'sresolution strategies.