Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Bank of Ireland vs Wells Fargo
Bank of Ireland
Wells Fargo
Higher score in this comparison
Where Bank of Ireland and Wells Fargo differ
| Compare | Bank of IrelandReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Wells FargoReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | €30 | $0 |
| APR | 22.1% | 18.74% to 28.74%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.25%Lower | 3% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 7 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Rewards type | Not confirmed | Cashback |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 2% cash rewards |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
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Key differences
- Wells Fargo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Bank of Ireland: 1783 vs 1852.
- APR is lower at Wells Fargo: 18.74% to 28.74% vs 22.1%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Bank of Ireland: 2.25% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Wells Fargo: 12 months vs 7 months.
Our verdict on each
Bank of Ireland
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.
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo suits US customers who want one bank for a rewards card, easy-access checking and a fixed-rate personal loan. Deposits sit under FDIC protection, and the card pairs an annual fee of $0 with 2% cash rewards at an APR of 18.74% to 28.74%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Personal loans carry 0 EUR - no arrangement fee as the arrangement fee, while the card costs €30 a year. | 8.8Higher |
| Offer | 8.7The card lists rewards among its features, plus a 7 balance transfer offer, while SuperSaver pays 3%. | 9.1HigherAnnual fee of $0 plus 2% cash rewards on spending, against a card APR of 18.74% to 28.74% that is high for the market. |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 9.9 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 251 of 1492 | 240 of 1492 |
| Loans | 390 of 2043 | 370 of 2043 |
| Personal loans | 347 of 1317 | 331 of 1317 |
| Mortgages | 168 of 853 | 159 of 853 |
| Credit and debit cards | 288 of 1594 | 272 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 96 of 421 | 92 of 421 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 32 | 8 of 32 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 27389 |
Additional countries for Bank of Ireland: 1. Additional countries for Wells Fargo: 1.
Sources behind this comparison
Bank of Ireland
- personalbanking.bankofireland.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bankofireland.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Wells Fargo
- creditcards.wellsfargo.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wellsfargo.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo National Bank West |
| Headquarters | Ireland | United States |
| Founded | 1783Lower | 1852 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Loans
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | €2,000 to €75,000 | $3,000 to $100,000 |
| Term | 12 months | 12 to 84 monthsHigher |
| Arrangement fee | 0 EUR - no arrangement fee | 0 USD |
| Credit check | Hard | Hard |
| Funding time | 24-48 hours after signed credit agreement | Same day as approval for most customers |
| 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 | Unsecured personal loan: $17,000 over 48 months at 13.99% APR, monthly payment $464 |
| Rate type | Fixed | Fixed |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Yes | 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 | Existing customers only: must have been a Wells Fargo customer for at least 12 months |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | 0% |
| Loan types | Personal, Car, Student | Personal, Debt consolidation |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Savings
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | €5 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| 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) | more ways to access your money |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $5 |
| Account kind | Fixed | Easy access |
Mortgages
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 3.1% | Not confirmed |
| APRC | 3.8% | Not confirmed |
| Fixed period | 4 years | 30 yearsHigher |
| Maximum loan to value | 90% | 100%Higher |
| Product fee | €150 to €250 | Not confirmed |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Buy to let, Equity release | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Home equity |
Debit cards
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 22.1%highest quarter | 18.74% to 28.74%above the median | 11.635% |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.25%above the median | 3%highest quarter | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 7 monthslowest quarter | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2%above the median | 1.5% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Bank of Ireland
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
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
Wells Fargo
Pros
- Personal loans carry an arrangement fee of 0 USD and free early repayment, with funding Same day as approval for most customers.
- Deposits are covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the bank is listed as FDIC cert 27389.
- A 12 month introductory period applies to balance transfers on the card.
Cons
- The card APR of 18.74% to 28.74% is steep for a card with no annual charge, so a balance carried month to month costs a lot.
- Personal loans are for existing customers who have been with the bank for a waiting period, which rules out new applicants.
- Support runs on phone and help centre only.
Who each suits
Bank of Ireland
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
Wells Fargo
Who it suits
- US customers already banking with Wells Fargo who want a rewards card and loans from the same lender.
- Households holding savings, since deposits carry FDIC up to USD 250,000.
- People planning a home purchase or remortgage, as the listed mortgage purposes are purchase, remortgage and first time buyer.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for applicants with no credit history, since personal loans run a hard credit check, while Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is aimed at rebuilding credit.
- Not for euro or sterling spenders: bunq and Wise both charge an annual fee of €0 and £0, while Wells Fargo is a US bank.
Current offers
Wells Fargo
Current offer
Bonus
Active Cash Card $100 cash rewards bonus: $100
spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Bank of Ireland | Wells Fargo |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Bank of Ireland
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.
Wells Fargo
What does the Wells Fargo credit card cost to keep?+
The Active Cash card has an annual fee of $0 and pays 2% cash rewards on spending. Borrowing on it costs an APR of 18.74% to 28.74%, which is high for a card with no annual charge. Rewards are cashback, so you get money back rather than points or miles.
Is there an interest-free period for balance transfers?+
The Active Cash card terms set an introductory balance transfer period of 12. That window is for balances you move onto the card, so plan the transfer before it ends. Afterwards the standard rate on the balance takes over.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Bank of Ireland
Wells Fargo