ARK Life, AIB's life assurance subsidiary, continues to record strong growth with a 104 per cent increase in regular premium business from £6.7 million to £13.7 million in the first six months of 1996.

The period has been described as "very successful" by Ark Life managing director, Mr Fred Dinmore.

The growth has been partly attributed to new savings plans, the PIP and the PEP, which were introduced in January.

All the growth generated by Ark came in the new regular premium business, which more than doubled from £4.7 million to £11.7 million. The pensions business remained static at £2 million.

In single premium investments, sales rose 32 per cent from £31.4 million to £41.6 million helped by tracker bonds.