Open a Bank Account in Ireland Online

Why Open a Bank Account for Ireland?

Ireland's low corporate tax rate, English-speaking workforce, and EU membership have made it a magnet for tech companies, startups, and international workers. But its retail banking market has become noticeably thinner in recent years, and most traditional banks now expect a PPS number and proof of an Irish address before they'll open a current account. A remote EU LT IBAN from Monvenience is a faster alternative: whether you're relocating, working remotely, studying, or running a business with Irish clients, it lets you receive salary and SEPA payments, set up direct debits, and pay day-to-day expenses without visiting a branch - and without waiting on your PPS number.

Can Non-Residents Open an Account?

Yes. Monvenience's EU IBAN account is available to non-residents online, with minimal paperwork and no Irish residency, PPS number, or address required to apply. You will typically need identification and proof of address from your home country. This avoids the classic obstacle non-residents and new arrivals face with traditional Irish banks, which usually expect a PPS number and an Irish utility bill or lease before opening an account - and, awkwardly, you often need a bank account to secure a lease in the first place.

Documents Required

• Valid Passport or EU National ID
• Proof of Address (utility bill, rental agreement, or bank statement) - your home country address is accepted
• Corporate documents and UBO/director ID (for business accounts)

How to Open Your Account

1. Complete the online application (passport, address proof, and for businesses, company documents)
2. Complete identity verification, including a live selfie or video KYC
3. Our compliance team reviews your profile
4. Your EU IBAN account is activated in 1-5 working days; use your IBAN for salary, rent, and direct debits

Benefits of an EU IBAN in Ireland

• Use your IBAN for salary, rent, and direct debit setups
• No PPS number or Irish address needed to apply
• No foreign exchange fees for local purchases within the eurozone
• Receive salaries, rental income, and most SEPA payments
• Access to mobile and online banking in English

Challenges of Banking in Ireland as a Non-Resident or Business - and How We Solve Them

Ireland's banking market has gone through real structural change in the last few years, on top of the usual EU-wide friction points. Here's what to expect, and how a Monvenience LT IBAN and USD account are built to work around each one.

1. The market shrank: Ulster Bank and KBC both exited in 2023

Ulster Bank and KBC Bank Ireland both fully withdrew from the Irish retail market in 2023, closing accounts and pushing large numbers of switching customers through the remaining banks' branches at once. Ireland is now served by a small handful of full-service retail banks (mainly AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB), and branch appointment waits have lengthened as a result.

Mitigation: a Monvenience EU IBAN account doesn't depend on Ireland's shrunken branch network or appointment queues. It's issued by an EMI regulated by the Central Bank of Lithuania, and is typically opened in 1-5 working days.

2. The PPS number "chicken-and-egg" problem

Most traditional Irish banks now require a PPS number (Personal Public Service Number, issued by the Department of Social Protection) before opening a current account. New arrivals often also need a bank account to secure a lease, and a lease to register certain aspects of their PPS application - a loop familiar to anyone who has relocated to Germany or Estonia.

Mitigation: Monvenience's EU IBAN account does not require a PPS number or an Irish address. You can open it before you arrive and start receiving payments immediately, then sort out your PPS number on its own timeline.

3. IBAN discrimination

As across the EU, some Irish companies, landlords, or employers incorrectly resist a non-Irish IBAN. This is illegal under Article 9 of the SEPA Regulation (EU) No 260/2012, which requires any SEPA-zone IBAN, including a Monvenience LT IBAN, to be treated the same as a local IE IBAN for euro payments.

Mitigation: if a counterparty refuses your IBAN, cite Article 9 in writing, and escalate through the "Accept My IBAN" initiative or the Central Bank of Ireland if it isn't resolved.

4. You have a right to a basic account - but it still needs an Irish address

Under the EU Payment Accounts Directive, legal residents of the EU are entitled to a basic bank account from an Irish bank regardless of credit history, if they don't already have one elsewhere in the EU. It's a genuinely useful backstop. The catch: a basic account still generally requires proof of an Irish address, so it doesn't help before you're settled.

Mitigation: a Monvenience EU IBAN account fills exactly that gap - it can be opened remotely, without an Irish address, so you're not left without banking while you get settled. If you later want a basic Irish account too, you're fully entitled to one.

5. Needing more than euros

Freelancers and businesses serving clients outside the EU often find a euro-only IBAN isn't enough on its own, forcing them to juggle multiple providers to collect USD or GBP payments.

Mitigation: pair your EU IBAN with a dedicated Monvenience USD account on the same platform - see below.

Also Open a Global USD Account, Alongside Your EU IBAN

You can also open a USD account online, with SWIFT reach in 200+ countries, along with multicurrency support - treating it as a local account almost anywhere in the world. One USD account to collect, pay and spend across the world.

Open a dedicated USD account and receive payments from clients in virtually any currency, send cross-border payouts to your suppliers and team, and issue Mastercard prepaid cards to your people - all from a single platform, with no branch visit and no separate banking portals.

• Available for both individuals and businesses
• A separate account from EU LT IBAN - manage from different dashboards
• Useful for Ireland-based freelancers and companies invoicing clients in the US, UK, Middle East or Asia
• Mastercard prepaid cards can be issued to your team, funded from the USD balance

You can learn more about this account at monvenience.com/online-usd-account/.

Explore the USD Account

Why Choose Monvenience - Pros and Cons

Monvenience issues your account directly as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) regulated by the Central Bank of Lithuania. Here's why it works well for Ireland-facing banking, along with the honest limitations:

Pros:

• Fast Account Opening: Apply remotely, with accounts typically activated within 1-5 working days.
• No PPS Number Needed to Apply: Built for non-residents, digital nomads, and expats who don't have an Irish address or PPS number yet. Your home country address is accepted.
• Works for Salary and Direct Debits: Use your IBAN to receive salary and set up direct debits across Ireland.
• Multicurrency Support: EUR (LT IBAN), GBP, USD, and more - useful for freelancers and international businesses, with SWIFT reach.
• Regulated & Transparent: Issued and regulated as an EMI under EU financial law via Lithuania, with published charges.
• Business & Personal Accounts: Whether launching a startup, running an EU-facing business, or managing personal finances.
• Transparent Pricing: Clear, published rates - see our Charges page.
• Prepaid Cards: Physical and virtual Mastercard prepaid cards linked to your account for ATM withdrawals and online or in-store purchases.

Cons:

• Not an IE IBAN: Your LT IBAN works as a local account across the EU and EEA, including Ireland, but a small minority of Irish entities still resist non-Irish IBANs (see Challenges) - though the law is firmly on your side.
• No overdrafts or cash deposits: As a fully online EMI account, we don't offer overdraft facilities, and don't accept cash deposits - all transactions are digital, though you can withdraw cash from any local ATM.

Click here to Apply for your Account Click here to get the document list

Click here to know the fees and charges for your account