Ireland (IE)

Monthly fee: €6/month (standard current account); €0 if maintaining minimum balance of €3,000 or spending €1,500+/month on debit card

Requirements: Valid passport or ID, PPS number, proof of address (utility bill or bank statement, dated within 3 months). Can be initiated online but in-branch visit required for verification in most cases.

• + Largest bank in Ireland — extensive branch and ATM network
• + BOI 365 app is well-regarded
• + Strong corporate banking connections — important for large employer payroll relationships
• + BOI 365 online banking in English throughout
• + Mortgage provider of choice for many first-time buyers
• + Student accounts with no monthly fees available

• - Monthly fees of €6/month unless €3,000 balance maintained or €1,500+ debit card spend — easy to incur fees during early months before salary is established
• - Ulster Bank and KBC exit reduced competition significantly — market now concentrated in BOI and AIB; less incentive for competitive fee improvements
• - International SWIFT fees: €20–40 per transfer plus 2–4% FX spread — Wise is significantly cheaper for regular overseas remittances
• - PPS number required for full account functionality — new arrivals must obtain PPS number first (3–4 weeks after arrival); use Revolut in the interim

Monthly fee: €4.50/month; free with minimum €2,500 balance or €2,500+ monthly inflows

Requirements: PPS number, valid ID, proof of address. Can open online for residents via AIBID verified with passport.

• + Second largest bank — wide branch and ATM coverage
• + AIB app is highly rated for mobile banking
• + Strong mortgage market share
• + Good international payments service
• + AIB for Business accounts available for self-employed

• - Monthly fee of €4.50/month unless minimum €2,500 balance or €2,500+ monthly inflows maintained — easy to incur during early months before salary is established
• - Customer service delays following sector consolidation — Ulster Bank and KBC exits increased AIB's customer base substantially; branch and phone service times stretched
• - International SWIFT fees: €20–40 per transfer plus 2–4% FX spread — Wise is significantly cheaper for regular overseas remittances
• - PPS number required before account opening — cannot apply without Irish Personal Public Service number; typically takes 3–4 weeks after arrival to obtain

Monthly fee: €6/month (Explore current account); fee waived with €2,500+ monthly inflows

Requirements: PPS number, valid ID, proof of address

• + Smaller, more personal service approach
• + Competitive mortgage rates, particularly for first-time buyers
• + Took on portions of Ulster Bank and KBC customer books during 2022–23 exits; BAWAG (Austria) agreed €1.62bn acquisition of PTSB in April 2026 — pending regulatory approval, expected Q4 2026/Q1 2027

• - Smaller branch network than BOI or AIB — limited coverage outside Dublin and larger cities; less convenient for expats in rural Ireland
• - Digital services less developed than the two main banks — PTSB app and internet banking features lag behind BOI 365 and AIB's digital platforms
• - International SWIFT fees: €20–40 per transfer plus 2–4% FX spread — Wise is significantly cheaper for regular overseas remittances
• - PPS number required before account opening — cannot apply without Irish Personal Public Service number; typically takes 3–4 weeks after arrival to obtain

Monthly fee: €0 (Standard); €7.99/month (Premium); €13.99/month (Metal)

Requirements: Passport or EU ID; no PPS number or Irish address required to open. Can be used from Day 1.

• + Ireland is one of Revolut's highest per-capita markets — extremely popular
• + Instant setup from phone — ideal for Day 1 in Ireland
• + Irish IBAN (IE xx xxxx xxxx xxxx) issued
• + Best exchange rates for non-EUR currencies
• + No fees on ATM withdrawals up to monthly limit
• + Stock trading, crypto, and savings vaults built in
• + Multi-currency accounts essential for international workers

• - Not accepted by all Irish salary payment systems — some older payroll systems (particularly public sector and legacy employers) specifically require BOI or AIB IBANs
• - Lithuanian banking licence — deposits covered by Lithuanian DGS up to €100,000 under EU rules but not directly by the Irish DGS; may concern some expats
• - No physical branches — all issues resolved via in-app chat; complex problems difficult to resolve; customer service delays reported during peak periods
• - Some landlords, solicitors, and older employers may not accept Revolut IBAN for rent, deposit payments, or salary — verify before relying on Revolut as primary account

Monthly fee: €0 (Standard); €4.90/month (Smart); €9.90/month (Go, formerly You)

Requirements: EU/EEA passport or ID. No Irish address required to open.

• + Good alternative to Revolut with German banking licence (EU deposit guarantee)
• + Instant account opening
• + Good travel insurance included on paid tiers
• + Spaces feature for savings goals

• - Less deeply integrated into Irish financial ecosystem than Revolut — lower Irish brand recognition; fewer Irish-specific features and integrations
• - No physical presence in Ireland — all issues resolved via app or email; no in-person support option
• - German IBAN (DE prefix) may be questioned by some Irish employers or property managers — not as widely accepted in Ireland as Revolut's Irish IBAN
• - International SWIFT fees for non-SEPA transfers: €5–20 per outbound wire — Wise is significantly cheaper for regular remittances outside EU/EEA

Monthly fee: €5/month (current account)

Requirements: Can be opened at any An Post post office with valid ID. PPS number required.

• + Post office network as physical access points across Ireland — including rural areas
• + No minimum balance requirements
• + Good for those who prefer in-person banking support in their local post office
• + Accepted by most Irish employers for salary

• - Limited digital banking features compared to mainstream banks — app and internet banking less comprehensive than BOI 365 or AIB; fewer self-service digital options
• - Monthly fee of €5/month with no waiver option — cannot be waived regardless of balance or usage; higher per-feature cost than BOI or AIB with salary crediting
• - International SWIFT fees for non-SEPA transfers: €20–35 per outbound wire — Wise is significantly cheaper for overseas remittances
• - An Post Money Visa debit card not accepted at some international online retailers — BOI or AIB debit card is more universally accepted for card-not-present transactions

Monthly fee: Typically €0–€2/month. Membership requires saving regularly with the credit union.

Requirements: Must live or work in the credit union's common bond area. PPS number and ID required.

• + Ireland has the highest credit union membership per capita in Europe
• + Excellent personal loan rates (often lower than banks)
• + Competitive mortgage rates — increasing focus on mortgages
• + Community-based and not-for-profit
• + Much more personal service than high street banks
• + Loans based on savings history — build relationship from Day 1

• - Geographic "common bond" restriction — must join the credit union for your specific area (parish, employer, or community group); cannot join any credit union outside your common bond
• - Savings-based loan eligibility takes time to build — loan amounts tied to savings history; new members typically cannot borrow immediately; relationship must be established first
• - Current account functionality more limited than BOI or AIB — not all credit unions offer full current account services with all digital features
• - Not suitable as primary account for complex international financial needs — limited international wire capability; best used as a supplement to a main bank account for savings and loans