Monzo Current Monzo
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: Free EU
Compare Bank Accounts in Ireland
Live offers across tracked providers in Ireland — updated daily from the Giraffy database.
Live offers
20 live offers compared from 17 providers, from €0 /month. Updated daily.
Starling Personal Starling Bank
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: 0.5% FX fee
Credit Union Account Credit Union
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Share Account
- Debit Card: Visa Debit
Fire Business Account Fire
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Business Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: 0.5% FX fee
An Post Money Account An Post Money
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Prepaid Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: 2% FX fee
Wave Money Account Wave Money
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Current
- Debit Card: Visa
- International Fees: 0.5% FX fee
State Savings Account State Savings (NTMA)
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: State-backed
Payoneer Account Payoneer
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Multi-currency
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: 0% on USD/EUR/GBP
EBS MoneyManager Account EBS
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Current account (branch)
- Debit Card: Visa Debit
- International Fees: Standard FX fees apply
Revolut Standard Revolut
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Digital current account
- Debit Card: Visa/Mastercard
- International Fees: Free FX up to €1,000/month
N26 Standard N26
€0 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Digital current account
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: Free card payments in any currency
bunq Free Bunq
€0 /month
bunq Free personal plan (essentials). Current bunq tiers: Free / Core / Pro / Elite.
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €0
- Account Type: Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: Free EU
Triodos Current Triodos Bank
€3 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €3/month
- Account Type: Ethical Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: Free EU
Cashplus Business Cashplus
€3 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €3/month
- Account Type: Business Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: 1% FX fee
bunq Core Bunq
€3 /month
bunq Core personal plan. Current bunq tiers: Free / Core / Pro / Elite.
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €3.99/month
- Account Type: Current
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: Free global
AIB Personal Current Account AIB
€6 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €6
- Account Type: Current account (branch)
- Debit Card: Visa Debit
- International Fees: Standard FX fees apply
Bank of Ireland Current Account Bank of Ireland
€6 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €6
- Account Type: Current account (branch)
- Debit Card: Visa Debit
- International Fees: Standard FX fees apply
PTSB Explore Account Permanent TSB
€8 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €8
- Account Type: Current account (branch)
- Debit Card: Visa Debit
- International Fees: Standard FX fees apply
Monzo Premium Monzo
€10 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €10/month
- Account Type: Premium
- Debit Card: Mastercard
- International Fees: Free global
N26 Metal IE N26
€16.90 /month
- Tutela del deposito: EU DGS — up to €100,000
- Monthly Fee: €16.90/month
- Account Type: Premium current account
- Debit Card: Metal card
- International Fees: Free international
What is a bank account in Ireland?
A current account is your everyday hub for receiving salary, paying bills, using a debit card and setting up direct debits. In Ireland the market now spans traditional pillar banks, member-owned credit unions and a growing set of app-based digital banks that passport in from elsewhere in the EU. Many people run more than one — a main account for salary and direct debits, plus a digital account for spending and budgeting.
How the Irish market works
After KBC and Ulster Bank exited, everyday retail banking consolidated around AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB, alongside An Post Money and local credit unions. Digital challengers such as N26, Bunq, Monzo, Starling and Fire have expanded rapidly, most operating on EU or UK licences and offering IBAN accounts, instant notifications and fee-free features. SEPA transfers and the Central Bank's switching code make moving your account relatively straightforward.
Benefits
Real-time control — app-based accounts send instant spending alerts and let you freeze cards from your phone.
Fee-free options — several providers offer no monthly maintenance fee if you meet simple conditions.
Budgeting tools — spaces, pots and spending categories help you plan and save automatically.
Fast SEPA payments — euro transfers across the EU are quick and low-cost.
How to choose
Decide whether you need a full domestic account with cheque and cash facilities or a lean digital account for spending. Compare monthly fees against the conditions to waive them, check whether the account carries the €100,000 Deposit Guarantee Scheme protection under an Irish or EU licence, and confirm that direct debits, salary and standing orders are supported. If you handle cash, verify branch or An Post counter access.
Leading providers in Ireland
AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB remain the main full-service domestic banks with branch networks. An Post Money and credit unions offer accessible everyday banking with a strong community footprint. Among digital providers, N26 and Bunq operate on continental EU licences, while Monzo and Starling bring UK-style app banking; Fire and Triodos serve niche business and ethical-banking audiences respectively.
What it costs
Everyday accounts range from free to around €16.90 per month depending on the provider and the tier. Domestic banks may charge quarterly maintenance and per-transaction fees unless you meet minimum lodgement or balance conditions, while many digital accounts are free at the basic level and charge only for premium features such as insurance perks or metal cards.
Protections and regulation
The Central Bank of Ireland regulates banks operating here, and eligible deposits are protected up to €100,000 per person per institution under the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (or the equivalent scheme in a digital bank's home EU state). The Central Bank's account switching code requires providers to move your payments within a set timeframe, and the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman can investigate unresolved complaints.
Common questions
Are digital banks safe? — Licensed digital banks protect deposits up to €100,000 under their home-state guarantee scheme; always check which licence applies before depositing.
How long does switching take? — Under the switching code the process typically completes within around ten business days once you authorise it.
Can I get cash easily? — Domestic accounts offer branch and ATM access; digital accounts rely on ATMs and, for some, An Post or retail cash services.
The cheapest Bank Accounts in Ireland is €0 /month from Monzo.
Bank Accounts in Ireland — FAQ
What documents do I need to open a bank account in Ireland?
Typical requirements are a government-issued photo ID (passport or national ID card) and proof of address (utility bill or bank statement dated within 3 months). Some banks in Ireland also require a proof of income or an employment letter. Digital-only banks often verify identity entirely via an app — no branch visit needed.
Can I open a bank account online without visiting a branch?
Many banks in Ireland now offer fully digital account opening via their app or website, completed in minutes. You'll upload your ID documents and in some cases do a short video verification. Traditional high-street banks may still require an in-person appointment for certain account types.
Are my deposits protected if a bank fails?
Yes — the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS) protects up to €100,000 per person, per bank. Check that your chosen bank is Central Bank of Ireland-regulated before depositing. If you hold more than the limit, spread balances across separate banking licences to keep everything covered.
What is the difference between a current account and a savings account?
A current account is for everyday spending — it comes with a debit card, direct debits, and a local bank identifier (sort code, IBAN, or BSB depending on your market). A savings account is designed to hold money you don't need immediately and usually pays a higher interest rate, but may limit the number of monthly withdrawals.
What is a challenger bank and is it safe?
Challenger banks are digital-first institutions — examples include Monzo, Revolut, and N26 across Europe, Chime and SoFi in the US, and neobanks like STC Pay in the Gulf. They're generally safe — most are Central Bank of Ireland-regulated and offer the same deposit protection as traditional banks — but check the specific licence before depositing large sums.
How long does it take to open a bank account?
Digital accounts typically open within 10–30 minutes once your identity is verified. Traditional bank accounts may take 1–5 working days after in-branch verification. International or business accounts sometimes take longer due to enhanced due diligence requirements.
Do bank accounts charge monthly fees?
Giraffy tracks 5 current account options across Monzo,Starling Bank,Credit Union,Fire,An Post Money banks in Ireland. Many accounts are free; premium or packaged accounts charge a monthly fee and include benefits like travel insurance or breakdown cover. Filter by 'No Monthly Fee' to find free options.