The Ulster Bank has applied to join the Irish government’s scheme to guarantee all the deposits in Irish banks. Irish ministers had said they may extend the scheme to foreign banks with a significant number of Irish customers on a case-by-case basis. The Bank of Ireland has said it has seen a steady increase in people contacting its call-centres. The European Commission has said it is “in close contact” with the Irish government about the move following concern that it may give Irish banks an unfair advantage over foreign competitors.