Ireland Bank Account

lufcgirl

Hi,
I'm currently travelling a lot to Southern Ireland and wanting to get an Irish bank account in preparation for eventually moving there.
Do you know if this is available if I'm not actually a resident of their country, or any banks I could go to for help?

Thank you

DesG

Do you know anyone with an address there that you could use?

(Oh, and your sig needs updating!)

Cheers, Des.

lufcgirl

Lol updated now!
And I don't really have an address of anyones I could use, I was kinda just wanting an account to get everything in motion for the future (plus theres no card booking fees for ryanair apparently!)

JoseChungsDoomsday

In Ireland you need a national insurance number to open an account (you get taxed for everything - having a credit card, debit card etc)

DesG

For ryanair, just get an electron card from Halifax, that sorts that out!

Without an address to use, I don't think you will have much luck.

Does your UK bank own any banks in the South? They might have some process for their existing customers who are moving.

Cheers, Des.

Chadsman

Try asking at a bank that has a retail operation in both the UK (or at least Northern Ireland) and Ireland...
eg: Bank of Ireland, Northern Bank, Ulster Bank.

cifpower

Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank are the only two which operate both sides of the border but if you open an Ulster Bank account in NI you will be charged a foreign transaction fee for withdrawls south of the border.

skint_chick

I would try Ulster Bank or Bank of Ireland - Ulster Bank don't charge an extra fee for cash withdrawals in the south just their exchange rate to euros. Most of the other English based banks charge the % fee for foreign withdrawals. If you call them they should sent an application form out and it can be opened with a UK address and if they need id once they credit score you, usually it can be taken to a Natwest branch for certification. You can pay money in at Natwest branches too but it seems to take 5/6days to actually reach your account.

Bank of Ireland work on a similar basis with their current accounts - but not as easy to get money paid in from the UK. There is also AIB/First Trust - but they only have a couple of branches in London.

Electron cards are free with Ryanair so you could try Halifax basic banking/Coop Cashminder/Barclays basic bank account etc.

olly300

I did some research on it and the main stipulation is that you open the bank account in person at a branch.

They will need various forms of ID so it's best to contact the bank and ask them what ID they require before you attempt to open the account as some of the banks state online that you need an employer's/university/client's letter if you don't have an address.