ExpatMoneyEU verdict: Open AIB if you want the better app and mortgage range; open Bank of Ireland if you want the widest branch coverage or the pre-arrival “Coming to Ireland” application. Both cost the same flat €6 per month — so the choice is about features, not price. And open Revolut first either way, because it is free and gives you an Irish IBAN immediately.
AIB and Bank of Ireland are Ireland's two big retail banks, and for expats the choice between them looks deceptively simple: both charge a flat €6 per month on a standard current account, both give you an Irish IBAN, and both have nationwide branch networks. The differences that actually matter are subtler — app quality, mortgage range, pre-arrival opening, and how each treats newcomers without an Irish address yet.
This comparison scores both banks on the criteria expats care about, and names the free account you should open first regardless of which big bank you eventually pick.
Quick comparison
| AIB | Bank of Ireland | |
| Monthly fee (standard) | €6, covers unlimited euro transactions | €6, covers unlimited standard euro transactions |
| Fee exemptions | Students, graduates, 66+, AIB mortgage holders | Students, graduates, 66+ |
| Branches | 170+ across Ireland | Largest network + An Post counters |
| App | Well-rated mobile app | Solid app, branch-first heritage |
| Pre-arrival opening | Online if resident; branch visit if not | “Coming to Ireland” — start up to 45 days before you move |
| Mortgages | Strong range, fee waived with AIB mortgage | Competitive range, credit card products strong |
| Deposit protection | Up to €100,000 | Up to €100,000 |
| Best for | App-first expats, future mortgage holders | Branch lovers, pre-arrival planners |
Both banks moved to flat monthly fees in recent years — AIB replaced its quarterly-fee-plus-per-transaction model with the €6 flat fee in July 2026. Accounts inactive for the whole month are not charged by AIB; verify each bank's current exemptions on its own price list.
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Expert Score
| Monthly fee | Irish IBAN | Branch access | App quality | Expat onboarding | Mortgage range | Expert Score | |
| AIB | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 8.3 |
| Bank of Ireland | 6 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 8.3 |
Scores by ExpatMoneyEU Research Team from the criteria above — not influenced by commissions.
1. AIB — the app-first big bank
the app-first big bank
AIB is the pick for expats who live on their phone. Its mobile app is consistently the better-rated of the two big banks, and its current account is a clean, predictable product: one flat €6 monthly fee covering unlimited euro transactions, with no per-transaction surprises. The fee disappears entirely if you pay an AIB mortgage from the account, and students, graduates and customers aged 66+ are exempt.
AIB's mortgage range is a genuine reason to choose it: if you plan to buy property in Ireland, starting your banking relationship with the lender you may borrow from simplifies everything later. The catch for newcomers is onboarding — you can open online if you are already resident, but non-residents may need to visit a branch with proof of address.
→ Best Bank Account for Indians in Ireland — November 2026 Guide
2. Bank of Ireland — the widest network, and pre-arrival opening
the widest network, and pre-arrival opening
Bank of Ireland is Ireland's largest bank, and its branch network — extended further by counter services in An Post offices — is the widest in the country. That matters if you live outside Dublin or Cork, or if you simply prefer talking to a person for anything complicated.
Its unique feature is the “Coming to Ireland” account: you can start the application up to 45 days before you move, using your current non-Irish address, then update it to an Irish address within 60 days of opening. No other Irish big bank offers that, and for expats planning a move it removes the chicken-and-egg problem of needing an Irish address to get an Irish account. The standard account costs the same flat €6 per month as AIB, with the same student, graduate and 66+ exemptions.
→ Best Bank Account for Nigerians in Ireland — November 2026 Guide
3. The account to open first: Revolut (free, Irish IBAN)
3. The account to open first: Revolut (free, Irish IBAN)
Whichever big bank you pick, open Revolut first. It is free, it opens in about ten minutes with a passport, and — crucially in Ireland — Irish residents get a genuine Irish IBAN. That means your salary, rent and direct debits work from week one, while your AIB or Bank of Ireland application is still processing.
Revolut also covers the things big banks do badly: cheap currency exchange, multi-currency balances and instant transfers. Keep it beside your big-bank account permanently — most long-term expats in Ireland run exactly this two-account setup.
→ Ireland Net Salary Calculator 2026 — PAYE, USC, PRSI
How to open each account as an expat
Opening a traditional Irish bank account takes more paperwork than opening a free app account, but the process is straightforward once you know what each bank asks for. Start with the free account — Revolut opens in about ten minutes with a passport — so your salary and rent work while the big-bank application is still processing. Then gather the two documents both big banks want: photo ID (your passport) and proof of Irish address. Accepted proof usually includes a utility bill, a tenancy agreement, or a letter from your employer confirming your Irish address; a bank statement from another Irish institution also works once you have one.
For AIB, residents can apply online through the app or website, uploading ID and address proof; if you are not yet resident, expect a branch visit with your documents in hand. Branches can also open the account on the spot once verification passes, and your debit card typically arrives by post within a week. For Bank of Ireland, the “Coming to Ireland” route is the standout: you can begin up to 45 days before you move, using your current non-Irish address, and you then have 60 days after opening to update the account to your Irish address. That single feature removes the classic chicken-and-egg problem of needing an Irish address to get an Irish account.
Two practical points apply to both banks. First, apply for your PPS number as early as possible: you do not need it to open a basic account, but your employer needs it for payroll, and without your tax credits your first payslips may suffer emergency tax. Second, keep your free Revolut account active even after the big-bank account opens — it remains your best tool for currency exchange, travel spending and instant transfers, and it costs nothing to keep.
→ Best Bank Account for Indians in Ireland — November 2026 Guide
Scenario framework: which bank for which expat
- App-first professional. AIB — better app, predictable €6 fee, mortgage path for later.
- Planning the move. Bank of Ireland — start the “Coming to Ireland” application up to 45 days before you fly.
- Rural or branch-first. Bank of Ireland — the widest network, plus An Post counters.
- Future homeowner. AIB — the fee waiver with an AIB mortgage makes the relationship pay for itself.
Practical tips
- Documents: both banks want photo ID plus proof of Irish address (utility bill, tenancy agreement or employer letter). Bank of Ireland's pre-arrival route accepts your current address initially.
- PPS number: you do not need it to open a basic account, but employers need it for payroll — apply early to unlock your tax credits.
- Two-account setup: run Revolut for daily spending and FX, and AIB or Bank of Ireland for salary, direct debits and anything that needs a branch.
- Fees change: both banks revise price lists regularly — check the current fee booklet before applying.
What to watch in 2027
Both banks typically publish revised price lists in January — re-check the €6 fee and the exemption list each new year. Ireland's Budget 2026 froze the income-tax bands and credits, so 2027 take-home pay depends on the autumn 2026 budget — run your numbers in our Ireland net salary calculator before negotiating a 2027 salary. None of this changes the recommendation: open the free account now, pick your big bank when your address paperwork exists.
By the numbers
AIB's own published guide notes it serves about 3.4 million customers, and its €6 monthly fee replaced a quarterly-fee-plus-per-transaction model in July 2026, cutting average customer fees by roughly 12% according to the bank. Bank of Ireland's “Coming to Ireland” account is the only pre-arrival current-account route among Ireland's big banks, with applications opening up to 45 days before a move (Bank of Ireland, 2026).
How we compared: the methodology
How we compared
Fees and features checked: the providers' official websites and published price lists, as referenced throughout this guide. Criteria: monthly fees, branch access, English support, expat onboarding and deposit protection. Verdicts are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — not financial advice. Figures are illustrative; always verify the current terms with the provider before opening an account.
Disclosure: the buttons below are affiliate links — they may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.