BANK OF Ireland is investigating reports about the theft of another laptop used by the bank's life assurance division and whether it contained confidential information on customers.

A laptop used by an official from Bank of Ireland Life was stolen from the bank's branch in Newbridge, Co Kildare, in 2001, and contained details of life assurance customers from bank branches in Newbridge, Kilcullen and Athy.

RTÉ reported that the laptop had details of up to 4,000 bank customers, including dates of birth, addresses, bank account details, medical histories and investments held by customers.

The bank said in a statement it was "investigating an allegation of a stolen laptop computer dating back to 2001.

"The bank would like to reassure customers that the risk level of any data from seven years ago being used for fraudulent purposes is extremely remote."

The Data Protection Commissioner and the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority are investigating the theft of four Bank of Ireland Life laptops which contained personal details on 31,500 customers.

Some 29 bank branches were affected by the thefts which occurred between June and October of last year.