Currency in Ireland

In the Republic of Ireland, the official currency is the Euro (€).

• Notes are €5, €10, €20, €50, €100 and €200.
• Coins are 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2.

Remember that higher denomination notes such as €100 and €200 will not normally be accepted in retail outlets, so try to carry lower denominations (notes of €500, associated with money laundering and tax evasion, have been removed from circulation in 2016 by the European Central Bank).

ATM and Credit Cards in Ireland

Cards must adhere to international standards including a microchip.

Some stores and restaurants are cash only. Look for a sticker indicating they take credit cards if that is your only form of payment.

Irish banks offer wide coverage of ATMs across the country. In some towns and villages where ATMs are not as widely available it is also possible to receive cash in stores or gas stations.

Taking out cash is free from the ATMs of your bank, whereas cash withdrawals from other banks may be subject to fees. All ATMs accept both debit and credit cards. A map of ATMs can be found on the website of your bank.

Exchange

In the past, the best place to exchange money was a bank ATM machine, but some banks are now adding a 3% fee on to foreign ATM withdrawals. If you plan to use ATMs in Ireland make certain your bankcard is of the four PIN number type. Most ATMs in Ireland are compatible with the Cirrus or Plus system; if you have any doubts about the usability of your ATM card, contact your bank prior to leaving. You might also want to ask your bank about their fees for international exchanges at ATMs.

When arriving at the airport, Combo/Exchange windows are very easy to find. However, Bank ATM machines are eventually found in the lobby area at the Dublin's International Airport.

Electronic Transfers

Banks in Ireland offer a wide range of services electronically - both online and via mobile - often making it unnecessary to visit a bank branch in person once the bank account has been open. As a rule, while electronic services are largely free of charge or cost only a little, performing the same operations in a bank branch costs significantly more.

The costs of electronic transfers differ from one bank to another. Typically, electronic transfers between accounts in the same bank are free of charge and are completed within minutes. Transfers between different banks within Ireland might have a little fee. The same rate usually applies also to payments within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

Payments outside the EU and in currencies other than the Euro are more expensive; they can reach up 15 EUR per transfer.

Banks in Ireland

The biggest banks working with private customers in the Republic of Ireland are:

• Bank of Ireland
• Danske Bank
• Ulster Bank
• Permanent TSB

All of them utilize Internet banking.

Open a Bank Account in Ireland

To open a bank account in Ireland, you will need a proof of address (bills for example), your PPS number (Personal Public Service number / Social security number), a contract job and a valid ID card.

You should try to open an account with a bank that has a local branch as few allow you to open an account remotely. You will also need to visit the bank to transfer money to an international account, for example.

You can open a bank account even if you're a non-resident, but you may be required to provide two proof of address documents. You may also need to provide a character reference and access to your financial history in your home country.

Ulster Bank, Bank Of Ireland, Permanent TSB and Danske Bank have current accounts with no charge.

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