Our Favorite Banks in Ireland for International Students (2023)

Revolut is the best bank for International Students coming to Ireland. It is very easy to get started with Revolut and using the app is also really easy.  

For transferring money to Irish bank accounts we recommend Wise as they provide the cheapest and fastest bank transfers. 

There are two big traditional banks in Ireland(Bank of Ireland and A.I.B). Most Irish people have a bank account with one of those two banks for receiving money from their jobs and use Revolut to spend money. 

Opening a bank account in Ireland should be one of the first things that you do when you arrive in the country. You will need to be in the country to set up an account with the traditional banks but you can get started with Revolut or N26 right away by just using your Passport as your I.D. 

Traditional Banks vs. Online Banks for International students

At this point, you will need to decide if you only need an online bank like Revolut or N26 or if you want to have a traditional bank account then go with A.I.B or Bank of Ireland. 

If you are only planning a short stay in Ireland(one semester up to one year) then an online bank account should be enough for your needs. If you want to stay longer in Ireland and get a job or get a mortgage, then one of the traditional banks might be better for you. 

Online Banks to Use in Ireland(Revolut/N26/Wise)

Revolut, Wise, and N26 are the best options for online banking in Ireland. Revolut and N26 have banking licenses in the E.U. which means your money is more protected with them. I personally use wise for money transfers(very low fees) and Revolut for spending money.

Revolut

I love using Revolut because it is so easy to use and to buy things online. I highly recommend getting a Revolut card when you get to Ireland as lots of Irish people use Revolut when they are out and it is also an easy way to send money to your friends. 

Wise

You should use Wise if you need to send money from your home country account to an Irish bank account. The fees are much lower than traditional banks and it is much faster for the transaction to take place. 

For example, when I send money from my Wise account to Revolut, the transaction happens immediately whereas you would need to wait several days with traditional banks. 

N26 

The N26 online bank is very similar to Revolut but it just hasn’t taken off in the same way. I haven’t used N26 but I probably would if I was unhappy with Revolut 

Traditional Banks 

Traditional banks are great for you if you get a job in Ireland or you want to stay long term in Ireland. It is important to note that Ulster Bank has pulled out of the Irish market so the main options now are Bank of Ireland, A.I.B, and Permanent TSB.

These banks can be very frustrating to work with(especially buying things online) and are dropping their levels of in-person customer support. They are a good option if you need a loan(especially The Credit Union) but I wouldn’t recommend them for people moving temporarily to Ireland like International students. 

Overall, setting up a bank account in Ireland is a necessary step for managing your finances and getting paid if you have a job. It is important to do this soon after arriving in the country and to carefully consider which bank to use in order to avoid unnecessary fees and complications.

Using companies like Revolut and Wise will save you tons of money and hassle so consider signing up for them now.

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