AIB Group chief executive, Colin Hunt, said AIB "profoundly regrets" that the institution had to be rescued by the State almost two decades ago

The bank's total income is up four per cent to €4,908 million

In recent weeks, AIB said scammers are using sophisticated technology to insert fraudulent text messages into legitimate message threads.

The scam involves customers being visited by a taxi driver or a courier supposedly sent by the bank to collect their bank cards

The incident took place in the Culmore Road area of Derry on Monday night.

AIB shares rose 4 per cent in early trading