Bank of Ireland PLC (IRE) said Friday that demand for new lending remains muted in a "difficult and challenging" economic environment, but it maintained its current impairment charge forecasts.

The bank still sees an impairment charge on loans and advances to customers of around EUR6 billion in the three years to March 2011, which includes the EUR1.4 billion loan impairment charge in the year to 31 March 2009.

It said: "Downside risk to the loan impairment charge estimate arises in the event of a further deterioration in economic conditions or further prolonged low levels of activity in residential and commercial property markets."

Shares closed Thursday down 8% at EUR1.53 on the Irish Stock Exchange ahead of Friday's Annual General Meeting. Analysts remain concerned over its loan losses. The share price has plummeted from EUR5.33 from this time last year.

Company Web site: http://www.bankofireland.com

-By Quentin Fottrell, Dow Jones Newswires; 353-1-676-2189; quentin.fottrell@dowjones.com