Rates last updated: 29 October 2026 · How we verify
How to Open a Bank Account in Ireland as an Expat (2026): Banks, Fees and the PPSN Problem
Open your Revolut account here
Almost everyone who moves to Ireland hits the same loop in their first weeks: the bank wants proof of an Irish address, the landlord wants an Irish bank account, and the PPSN appointment wants proof of address too. Meanwhile your first salary is due and, if your PPSN isn't on your employer's system, it's being taxed at emergency rates. This guide compares the accounts you can actually open in 2026, from the three remaining high-street banks to the app-based ones, and sets out the order of steps that gets you through the loop. Fees are as published by each provider on 29 October 2026.
- Three high-street banks are left: AIB and Bank of Ireland at €6 a month and PTSB at €8; Ulster Bank and KBC have left the market.
- App-based banks such as Revolut and Monzo give you an Irish IBAN for free, usually with just a passport: open your Revolut account here.
- An employer or Revenue can't refuse an account because it's in another EU country: that's IBAN discrimination, banned by EU law.
Short version of our advice: open an app-based account on day one so your salary has somewhere to go, apply for your PPSN with whatever address proof you have, then add a high-street account later if you need one, for example for a mortgage. If you pick Revolut, you can open your account at this link.
Which banks can you choose from in 2026?
- High-street banks: AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB, plus over 80 credit unions with current accounts and An Post Money.
- App-based: Revolut, Monzo (since April 2026) and bunq with Irish IBANs, N26 with German IBANs, and Wise, which is a payment account, not a bank.
| Account | Monthly fee | IBAN | Deposit protection | Open without an Irish address? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIB | €6, in months with activity | IE | Irish scheme, €100,000 | No: the app sends a code to your Irish address |
| Bank of Ireland | €6 | IE | Irish scheme, €100,000 | Yes: Coming to Ireland account, up to 45 days before you move |
| PTSB Explore | €8, less up to €5 cashback on card spending | IE | Irish scheme, €100,000 | No: you must be resident and in Ireland to apply in the app |
| An Post Money | €6 (€2 aged 16 to 22) | IE | Check with An Post | No |
| Revolut Standard | €0 | IE | Lithuanian scheme, €100,000 | Usually yes: address proof only in some cases |
| Monzo | €0 | IE | Irish scheme, €100,000 | Check with Monzo |
| bunq | €0 to €18.99 | Irish IBAN available | Dutch scheme, €100,000 | App-based, check with bunq |
| Wise | €0 (card €7 once) | BE | None: safeguarded, not a bank | Usually yes |
- The high-street fees are now flat. AIB moved to €6 a month from 1 July 2026, replacing its quarterly fee and per-transaction charges, and only charges in months with activity (AIB). Bank of Ireland is €6 a month (Bank of Ireland); PTSB Explore is €8 since April 2024, with 5c cashback per card payment up to €5 a month (PTSB).
- Students and over-66s pay nothing at AIB and Bank of Ireland on their student, graduate and older customers' accounts.
- Ulster Bank and KBC are gone. Ulster Bank closed its last branches in April 2023 and KBC handed back its Irish banking licence in April 2024, so any old advice that mentions them is out of date.
- Monzo is the newest arrival. It launched in Ireland in April 2026 through Monzo Bank Europe DAC, an Irish-licensed bank, so its deposits are covered by the Irish scheme (Monzo).
The PPSN and proof-of-address loop, and how to break it
- A PPSN needs proof of address dated within 3 months, but a lease, a hostel or hotel letter, or a note from the friend you're staying with plus their bill all count.
- The letter confirming your PPSN then works as proof of address at PTSB and Bank of Ireland, which unlocks a high-street account.
- Day one: open an app-based account. Revolut or Monzo, with your passport and a selfie, so you have an Irish IBAN for your employer and your landlord. If you choose Revolut, open your account at this link; our Revolut review covers fees and protection.
- Apply for your PPSN on MyWelfare with a basic MyGovID, then go to the appointment. Proof of address can be a utility bill, a bank statement, a lease or tenancy agreement, a government letter, or confirmation from a hostel, hotel, school or the person you're staying with together with their household bill (Citizens Information).
- Give your PPSN to your employer and register the job in myAccount. Until Revenue has your PPSN and the employment, payroll has to apply emergency tax. Our guide to emergency tax in Ireland explains how it's corrected.
- Add your PPSN to your app-based bank. Revolut, for one, asks for it within about 90 days.
- Open a high-street account if you want one. The Department of Social Protection letter confirming your PPSN is accepted as proof of address by PTSB, which lists it for new residents, and Bank of Ireland accepts letters from the Department (PTSB).
One catch: PTSB doesn't accept statements from app-based banks such as Revolut or N26 as proof of address, and none of the three high-street banks lists a letter from your employer. A utility bill in your name, a Revenue letter or the PPSN letter are the documents most likely to be accepted.
Opening an account before you arrive
- Bank of Ireland's Coming to Ireland account is the only high-street account you can open from abroad: apply up to 45 days before the move, IBAN within 3 days.
- You must switch it to an Irish address within 60 days, or the account is blocked.
- What Bank of Ireland asks for. Photo ID (passport, driving licence card or EU ID card) and a selfie, plus proof of your current address, such as a utility bill or a financial statement, or a letter from Revenue, an approved university, the CAO, the Department of Social Protection or the immigration service. Documents not in English need a certified translation (Bank of Ireland).
- The 60-day clock. Update to your Irish address within 60 days of opening; after that the account is blocked and closed 30 days later.
- App-based alternative. Revolut and Wise can usually be opened once you're resident, with your passport, without an Irish address on paper.
Your right to a basic bank account
- Every bank in Ireland must offer a basic bank account to anyone legally resident in the EU, including people without a fixed address and asylum seekers.
- It's free for at least 12 months, and the bank must open it or refuse in writing with reasons within 10 working days.
The right comes from the EU Payment Accounts Directive, in Irish law since 2016 (S.I. 482/2016). AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB all offer one; it has a debit card but no cheque book or overdraft, and it stays free after the first year if what you lodge is below a threshold linked to the minimum wage (CCPC). It's meant for people who don't already have a payment account in Ireland, so a bank can refuse if you do. If a branch turns you away for lack of documents, ask specifically for the basic bank account and for the refusal in writing.
Do you need an Irish IBAN?
- No. Under the EU SEPA Regulation an employer, utility or other payer can't insist on an account in a particular EU country, so a DE, LT, NL or BE IBAN must be accepted.
- Revenue pays tax refunds into any SEPA-compliant account you add in myAccount; without one, it sends a cheque.
- The rule. Article 9 of the SEPA Regulation stops a payer specifying the country where the payee's account must be, and the Central Bank of Ireland says an Irish employer or utility can't insist you open or keep an Irish account. Report a refusal by an employer to ibandiscrimination@centralbank.ie (Central Bank of Ireland).
- Your tax refund. Add your bank details in myAccount, under My Profile (Revenue). Revenue pays refunds into SEPA accounts, and its refund form DR2 rules out only accounts outside SEPA (Revenue). PAYE refunds usually land within 3 to 5 working days of the claim being processed.
- In practice an IE IBAN still saves arguments. Some smaller employers and landlords push back on foreign IBANs even though they shouldn't. Revolut, Monzo and bunq all give Irish IBANs, which avoids the conversation.
What an account really costs in a year
- At today's fees, a year of everyday use costs €77 at AIB, Bank of Ireland or PTSB (after cashback) and €12.99 on Revolut Standard, stamp duty included.
- Every Irish debit card, Revolut and Monzo included, carries government stamp duty of €0.12 per ATM withdrawal, capped at €5 a year if you also pay by card.
Starting data (assumptions): Lucas arrived in Dublin in 2026 and wants to know what 2027 will cost him at the fees published on 29 October 2026, assuming they don't change. He uses one current account all year: about 40 card payments and 4 ATM withdrawals of €50 a month, all in euro and in Ireland, no overdraft. It's his first card on that account.
| Account | Calculation | Cost for the year |
|---|---|---|
| AIB | €6 × 12 months with activity = €72, plus €5 stamp duty | €77 |
| Bank of Ireland | €6 × 12 = €72, plus €5 stamp duty | €77 |
| PTSB Explore | €8 × 12 = €96, less cashback 40 × €0.05 × 12 = €24, plus €5 stamp duty | €77 |
| Revolut Standard | €0 plan; 4 withdrawals of €50 = €200 a month, inside the free 5 withdrawals or €200; card delivery €7.99, plus €5 stamp duty | €12.99 |
| Stamp duty, every account | 48 ATM withdrawals × €0.12 = €5.76, capped at €5 for a card also used for purchases | included above |
Stamp duty on ATM and debit cards is set by Revenue and charged on 31 December; it doesn't apply to cards on a basic bank account (Revenue). Revolut and Monzo collect it on their Irish cards too (Monzo). Bank fees aren't a tax expense for an employee, so none of this comes back on your return; what does come back is overpaid tax on your salary.
Which account should you open first?
- For your first weeks, an app-based account with an Irish IBAN is the quickest way to get paid; Revolut and Monzo are both free on their basic plans.
- Add a high-street account once you have your PPSN letter if you'll want a mortgage, cash and cheque services, or the Irish deposit scheme for large balances.
- You want to be paid next week: Revolut or Monzo. Revolut is the most widely used and lets you start before your PPSN arrives; see our Revolut review or open your Revolut account here.
- You send money home every month: compare the exchange fees, which matter more than the monthly fee; our Revolut vs Wise comparison does the arithmetic, and sending money home from Ireland covers what you can claim for supporting family.
- You're still abroad: Bank of Ireland's Coming to Ireland account, then switch to your Irish address within 60 days.
- You plan to buy a home: you'll want a history with an Irish lender; our guide to buying a home, stamp duty and Help to Buy covers the tax side.
- You have savings over €100,000: spread them across banks, since every scheme, Irish, Lithuanian or Dutch, covers €100,000 per person per bank.
Once the account is open: get your first-year tax right
- Most newcomers overpay tax in their first year, through emergency tax or credits that weren't set up, and Revenue only repays it when you claim.
- Add your bank account in myAccount first, then claim: you can go back four years.
If your first payslips show emergency tax, or you started mid-year, there's usually money to claim back once your PPSN and credits are in place. Our first-time PAYE refund guide explains how, the tax refund calculator gives an estimate in two minutes, and the complete guide covers the rest of the Irish system. Prefer we do it? Our Tax Back service charges 15% of what we find, excl. VAT, and nothing if there's no refund.
Related reading
Questions we get asked
Can I open a bank account in Ireland without a PPSN?
Yes. Bank of Ireland and PTSB don't need one for a standard current account, AIB lets you add it later, and Revolut lets you start before it arrives, although it then asks for it. You do need a PPSN to be taxed correctly at work, so apply for it straight away.
Can I open an Irish bank account before I move?
Bank of Ireland's Coming to Ireland account can be opened online up to 45 days before you move, with photo ID, a selfie and proof of your current address abroad. You must update it to an Irish address within 60 days.
Can my employer refuse to pay my salary into a Revolut or foreign IBAN?
No. Under the EU SEPA Regulation an employer can't insist on an account in a particular EU country. Revolut customers in Ireland have IE IBANs anyway, and a refusal of a foreign EU IBAN can be reported to the Central Bank of Ireland at ibandiscrimination@centralbank.ie.
Which documents count as proof of address in Ireland?
Most banks accept a recent utility bill, a bank or credit union statement, a Revenue letter or a Department of Social Protection letter, such as the one confirming your PPSN. PTSB doesn't accept statements from app-based banks, and none of the high-street banks lists an employer letter.
Are bank deposits protected in Ireland?
Deposits at Irish-licensed banks, including AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB and Monzo Bank Europe, are covered up to €100,000 per person per bank by the Irish Deposit Guarantee Scheme. EU banks operating through an Irish branch, such as Revolut or bunq, are covered to the same limit by their home country's scheme. Wise is not a bank and is not covered.
Referral links. Some links on this page are referral links: if you open an account through one, Irish Tax Mate may receive a reward from the provider, at no cost to you. It never changes what we write. We're a tax agent, not a bank or a financial adviser, and we compare accounts on fees, deposit protection and tax.