Bank of Ireland can hardly be best pleased that a Bristol & West is set to float on the AIM market in London. No, this isn't the Bristol & West Building Society for which Bank of Ireland laid out £800 million (€1.02 billion) a few years ago, it's an investment company with an alarmingly similar name which provides short-term bridging loans for well-heeled house buyers who are borrowing more than £650,000.

It seems that Bristol & West Investments (the little company) registered its name three days before the building society in 1963, and has since resisted all efforts to change its name. According to B&W Investments, the building society did offer to buy out the Bristol & West name for £1,000 back in 1963. Bristol & West Building Society has, however, registered the Bristol & West domain name on the Internet, having apparently learnt from its mistake of 30 years ago.

Somehow, Current Account can't see this situation continuing and won't be at all surprised to see the Bank of Ireland subsidiary buying out Bristol & West. Who knows, it might even buy out the investment company altogether - after all, bridging loans are not a million miles removed from mortgages.