Banking in Ireland 2024- What’s new?

What types of banks are operating in Ireland?

If you are looking to open a business bank account for your company in Ireland, you can be assured that Ireland has a vibrant and modern banking sector.

The three main traditional banks operating in Ireland are:

The Irish government has a minority share in the Bank of Ireland, namely 9.3%. At the same time, it should be mentioned that the state is the majority shareholder in two banking groups, Allied Irish Banks, where it controls 71%, and TSB with 75% of the shares.

Digital banks

In recent years, bank customers have tended to move away from traditional banks to digital or online banks. This is largely due to the convenience and flexibility that these banks offer. For example, digital banks like Revolut, Fire, and N26 have entered the Irish market.

These banks can be much easier to use than traditional banks, thanks to tailored interfaces and features such as the use of a mobile app. Some may also offer competitive interest rates on savings accounts and loans.

As people become more comfortable paying for goods or services in stores by simply touching the screen on their phone, the use of mobile payments is still on the rise.

The new banking app in the Irish market: from traditional to digital

If you’re considering opening a business bank account for your company in Ireland and are concerned about the ability of traditional banks to provide instant payment services and easy online banking, you can take comfort in knowing that a new digital banking app is on its way.

Ireland’s leading banks have been given permission to create a new app that could rival Revolut. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) have cleared Synch Payments DAC, which describes its product as “an industry-wide instant mobile payment service designed to transform and revolutionize the way payments are made” in Ireland.”

Synch Payments, a new company, will provide a new mobile payment service called Yippay. The new app will allow customers to make instant person-to-person and person-to-business transactions.

With a selection of digital banks and traditional banks, having digital banking features that promise to be excellent, the Irish banking system offers a number of options for businesses looking to open a bank account in Ireland.

Should you wish to discover your options available based on your current situation, do not hesitate to book a free consultation with our team now.

Disclaimer

Widelia and its affiliates do not provide tax, investment, legal or accounting advice.  Material on this page has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, investment, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal, and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction. Please consult https://widelia.com/disclaimer/ for more information.

Author

Jared Young

International business consultant with 8 years of experience in cross-border corporate structuring and international banking access. At Widelia, Jared advises entrepreneurs and business owners on building banking-ready structures that meet modern compliance standards.

Latest News

economic substance offshore companies 2026

Economic Substance in 2026: What Offshore Companies Must Prove

by | Sep 9, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

Economic substance requirements for offshore companies have become one of the most important compliance challenges in 2026 — and failing to meet them can cost...

Payment Routing Strategies for High-Risk Businesses

by | Sep 2, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

As payment providers tighten their underwriting standards, high-risk businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain stable payment processing. Declined...

match list merchants blacklisted payment processing

MATCH List Explained: How Businesses Get Blacklisted

by | Aug 26, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

The MATCH List is one of the most serious consequences a merchant can face — and being blacklisted can makeit nearly impossible to accept card payments for years. For...

VAMP Explained: What Happens If You Cross the Threshold

by | Aug 19, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

Understanding VAMP thresholds has become essential for every merchant accepting Visa payments in 2026 — and crossing them can have serious consequences for payment...

Chargebacks in 2026: What Merchants Must Know

by | Aug 12, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

Chargebacks in 2026 merchants face have become one of the biggest threats to growth and payment processing stability. In 2026, merchants face stricter monitoring from...

How to Avoid Getting Your Merchant Account Shut Down

by | Aug 5, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

Getting your merchant account shut down is one of the most disruptive events a business can face — and in 2026, it is happening more often than most merchants realise....

EMIs vs Bank Accounts: Which Is Safer in 2026?

by | Jul 29, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

Choosing between an EMI and a bank account in 2026 has become one of the most important decisions for international businesses managing cross-border payments. Banks...

How to Open a Business Bank Account as a Non-Resident

by | Jul 22, 2026 | Blog | 0 Comments

Opening a business bank account as a non-resident used to be relatively straightforward. In many jurisdictions, entrepreneurs could establish a company remotely, submit...