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Bank of Ireland review

Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Bank of Ireland suits residents of the Republic of Ireland who want savings, loans and a rewards card from a single long standing bank, with deposits covered by EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. The catch is holding the Classic credit card, at €30 a year and 22.1% APR.

Key facts

Best for
Republic of Ireland residents who want savings, borrowing and a rewards card from a single bank.
Annual fee
€30↗
APR
22.1%↗
Currency conversion fee
2.25%↗
Balance transfer intro period
7 months↗
Card kind
Credit↗
Legal entity
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland↗
Headquarters
Ireland↗
Founded
1783↗
Support channels
Phone, Help-centre↗
Pricing model
No annual fee
Features
Rewards
Official website
bankofireland.com

Loans

Loan amount
€2,000 to €75,000↗
Term
12 months↗
Arrangement fee
0 EUR - no arrangement fee↗
Credit check
Hard↗
Funding time
24-48 hours after signed credit agreement↗
Representative example
Personal loan of EUR20,000 over 5 years at 6.9% variable, 7.1% APR, monthly repayment EUR394.71, cost of credit EUR3,682.60↗
Rate type
Fixed↗
Lender type
Direct lender↗
Free early repayment
Yes↗
Eligibility
18 years of age or over, resident in the Republic of Ireland, and an existing Bank of Ireland current account customer registered for 365 online to apply online↗
Origination fee (%)
0%↗
Loan types
Personal, Car, Student↗

Savings

Headline rate
3%↗
Minimum deposit
€5↗
Deposit protection
EU DGS up to EUR 100,000↗
Access terms
Save monthly by Direct Debit only, minimum €5, maximum €2,500; lump sum lodgements are not allowed; after 12 months the account defaults to the Standard Regular Saving variable rate (currently 2% AER)↗
Account kind
Fixed↗

Mortgages

Initial rate
3.1%↗
APRC
3.8%↗
Fixed period
4 years↗
Maximum loan to value
90%↗
Product fee
€150 to €250↗
Purpose
Purchase, Remortgage, First-time-buyer, Buy-to-let, Equity-release↗

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 13 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App StoreGoogle Play
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaLinkedInXTrustpilotie.linkedin.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Deposits sit under the EU deposit guarantee scheme, EU DGS up to EUR 100,000
  • Personal loans fund 24-48 hours after signed credit agreement, with free early repayment
  • The SuperSaver account pays 3% at a fixed rate with a minimum deposit of €5
  • Support runs through phone and help centre

Cons

  • The Classic credit card charges €30 a year on 22.1% APR
  • Currency conversion on the card costs 2.25%
  • The SuperSaver account takes savings by Direct Debit only, and after 12 it reverts to the standard regular saving variable rate
Bank of Ireland

Ready to try Bank of Ireland?

Scored 9.2 / 10 by SumCue.

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Who it suits

  • Residents of the Republic of Ireland who already hold a Bank of Ireland current account, since online applications need an existing account
  • People who save a set amount each month by Direct Debit rather than in one go
  • Borrowers who want a direct lender offering personal, car and student loans

Who should look elsewhere

  • Card holders who want no annual fee, where bunq charges €0 a year
  • People who need a secured card to start a credit file, where Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0
  • Card holders who want to avoid 2.25% on conversion, where Wise charges £0 a year

Rates and terms

The SuperSaver account pays 3% at a fixed rate. The Classic credit card runs at 22.1% APR and includes a balance transfer offer that lasts 7. The savings term is 12, after which the account moves to the standard regular saving variable rate.

Fees and currency costs

The Classic credit card charges an annual fee of €30 and runs at 22.1% APR. Currency conversion costs 2.25%, so spending abroad adds to the yearly charge. The site median annual fee is €0, so this card sits well above the middle.

How Bank of Ireland compares

Where Bank of Ireland is available

Available
Ireland

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What rate does the SuperSaver account pay?+

SuperSaver pays 3% at a fixed rate, held for 12 from the day you open it. The minimum deposit is €5, and the rate is fixed for the whole term. Once that term ends the balance moves to the standard regular saving variable rate.

How do I pay into the SuperSaver account?+

Savings go in by Direct Debit only, starting from €5. The account is set up for a habit of regular monthly saving, and it defaults to the standard regular saving rate once 12 has passed.

What does the Classic credit card cost to hold and to use abroad?+

The Classic credit card charges €30 a year, runs at 22.1% APR and costs 2.25% on currency conversion. It is a credit card that earns rewards, so the fee only makes sense with regular use.

Is my money protected?+

Deposits are covered under EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. That protection applies to savings held with the bank, not to balances run up on a card, where a balance transfer offer lasts 7.

What does a personal loan from Bank of Ireland cost?+

Loans run from €2,000 to €75,000, and the arrangement fee is 0 EUR - no arrangement fee. Funding takes 24-48 hours after signed credit agreement after the credit agreement is signed, the credit check is hard, and early repayment carries no charge.

Who can apply for these products?+

Applicants must be adults living in the Republic of Ireland with an existing Bank of Ireland current account, and online applications need you to be registered for online banking. That existing customer rule narrows who can borrow or open the savings account.

How do I get help?+

Support runs on phone and help centre. The bank is a direct lender rather than a broker, and it has traded since 1783, which makes it a long established name among Irish account holders.

Sources

Compiled from 14 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Rewards type.

Bank of Ireland

Bank of Ireland

Republic of Ireland residents who want savings, borrowing and a rewards card from a single bank.

9.2/10See alternatives