Best Online Banks in Ireland (2025)

Revolut — Ireland branch & IE IBANs

Revolut operates in Ireland via a branch of Revolut Bank UAB and issues Irish IE IBANs. Eligible euro deposits are insured up to €100,000 under Lithuania’s Deposit and Investment Insurance scheme. Check the app for current plan fees and any interest tiers, which change periodically.

bunq — Irish IBANs, Dutch DGS

bunq lets Irish residents obtain an IE IBAN and supports multi-IBANs (NL/DE/FR/ES/IE) with insured deposits up to €100,000 under the Dutch DGS. Plans are paid tiers with rich multi-currency features.

N26 — German DGS, joint accounts

N26 is a fully licensed EU bank (supervised by BaFin). Deposits are covered up to €100,000 under Germany’s scheme. Irish customers typically receive a DE IBAN (SEPA-compatible). N26 introduced joint accounts in Ireland in 2024.

Wise — E-money with BE IBANs (no DGS)

Wise is an e-money institution with strong multi-currency functionality and Belgian (BE) IBANs for EU accounts. Funds are safeguarded, not deposit-insured. Great for FX and cross-border payments.

Monese — E-money with BE IBANs (no DGS)

Monese provides fast onboarding, joint accounts and BE IBANs for euro accounts via its EU entity. Funds are safeguarded (no DGS).

What is an Online Bank?

An online bank delivers core banking via app/web with no physical branches. Many traditional banks also offer online banking—but this guide focuses on branchless options available to Irish residents.

Benefits of Online Banks

• 24/7 convenience and rapid onboarding.
• Lower fees & competitive rates (fewer branches → lower overhead).
• Modern tooling (budgets, jars/spaces, analytics, virtual cards).

How to Choose an Online Bank

• IBAN: IE IBANs reduce admin friction with some payroll/utilities (IBAN discrimination is illegal, but still pops up).
• Protection: Prefer DGS-covered deposits for savings; understand e-money safeguarding vs. deposit insurance.
• Features: FX/abroad use, spaces/jars, investing, rewards, business needs.
• Fees: Plan tiers, ATM and FX costs.

How to Open (General Steps)

1. Install the app / visit the provider site.
2. Choose account type (personal/joint/business).
3. Verify identity (passport/ID + selfie; sometimes proof of address).
4. Activate, add funds, set up direct debits & salary.

Exact requirements vary by provider and residency status.

Who Online Banks Are Best For

• Everyday users wanting better apps & analytics.
• Travelers & freelancers needing multi-currency tools.
• Savers who value competitive in-app savings features.

Online vs Traditional Banks

• Online: No branches, app-first UX, often lower fees & higher tech features.
• Traditional: Branch access, broad product set; sometimes higher fees.

Availability Notes (2025)

• Monzo — building an EU presence via Dublin hub, not currently available to Irish residents for accounts.
• Starling — withdrew its IE banking licence application in 2022.

Important

Rates/fees change frequently. Always confirm in-app or on the official site before applying. This page is informational and not financial advice.

References

• Revolut IE IBAN & Irish branch; deposit insurance (LT DGS). See Revolut Help & Legal pages.
• bunq Irish IBAN & Dutch DGS coverage (bunq Help, blog & docs; DNB DGS overview).
• N26 deposit protection (German DGS), security pages; joint accounts in IE noted by independent IE finance sources.
• Wise safeguarding & BE IBAN context (Wise Help/Blog).
• Monese EU terms/fees & e-money status (Monese EU T&Cs and fees pages).
• EU Deposit Guarantee Schemes explainer (European Commission).
• IBAN discrimination explainer (Central Bank of Ireland).