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8 Best Online Small Business Bank Accounts in Ireland in 2024

Jarrod Suda

Guide

May 23, 2023
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Ireland has gained an appeal from businesses thanks to its low corporate tax rates, prompting numerous multinational corporations to relocate their economic activities and, more notably, their underlying intellectual property to Ireland. In fact, the country is renowned for hosting one of Meta's largest international business offices (formerly Facebook).

In this comprehensive business banking guide, we compare the 8 top business account providers based on fees, features, and benefits tailored to your specific needs. Our comparison includes challenger business accounts such as Revolut Business, Wise Business, and Payoneer, in addition to major banks in Ireland.

As a business owner, you can streamline your search for the best bank account for your business finances in Ireland, allowing you to focus on driving your company forward.

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Best Business Bank Accounts in Ireland

  • Revolut — Track team spending and budgets
  • Wise — Send internationally at the market rate
  • Fire — Get payment services with API
  • N26 — Great for freelancers and sole-traders
  • Bank of Ireland — Access their startup package
  • Permanent TSB — Standard high-street bank option
  • AIB — Monthly fees waived for first 2 years
  • Payoneer — Integrate with e-commerce stores

Key Facts About Business Banking in Ireland

👨‍⚖️ Regulatory body

Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority

🏆 Best business bank
💸 Monthly fee

$0.00

🔎 No. of business accounts compared

8

Who Needs a Business Bank Account in Ireland?

Business bank accounts are essential for individuals and entities involved in business activities, as personal accounts cannot be used for such transactions. These accounts offer a range of benefits, including receiving customer payments, making partner payments, and accessing business loans, higher overdraft facilities, enhanced reporting, and foreign currency accounts. As a business owner, you'll gain expedited access to business credit cards and loans, providing you with necessary financial resources.

These accounts typically feature higher daily spend limits to accommodate the substantial volume of business transactions. As required by law, business bank accounts provide security by employing ring-fenced accounts, which segregate your business funds from the bank's portfolio.

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Business Bank Account Fees in Ireland

Business bank accounts offered by the major banks in Ireland often come with charges for the following services:

  • A fixed monthly account maintenance fee;
  • Transaction fees for payments;
  • Foreign currency transactions;
  • ATM withdrawals.

Some challenger banks offer the mentioned services, and more, free of charge or provide introductory offers without fees. However, accounts from challenger banks often do not include loans or business-related insurance products. For everyday banking tasks like making payments, managing receipts, and handling tax matters, Monito recommends online fintech platforms to automate these tedious processes.

What Do I Need to Open a Business Bank Account in Ireland?

Online banking providers such as Revolut, Wise, N26, Payoneer, and Fire offer the convenience of opening an account online. On the other hand, licensed Irish banks such as Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB, and AIB require an in-person visit to a branch for the initial setup process.

The following documents will be required:

  1. Photo ID and proof of address from the account holder: This can be a valid passport, driver's license, or government-issued identification, along with a recent utility bill or bank statement showing the account holder's address.
  2. Certificate of Incorporation: For Limited Companies, providing the Certificate of Incorporation, which verifies the legal establishment of your company, is necessary.
  3. Proof that your company is registered with the Registration of Beneficial Ownership (RBO): Companies in Ireland are required to register their beneficial ownership details with the RBO. Providing proof of this registration is typically a prerequisite when opening a business bank account.

Gregory DALLEAU on Unsplash Walking on Anne Street in Dublin, Ireland

How To Choose the Best Small Business Bank Account in Ireland?

When it comes to selecting a business bank account, there are several factors to consider, depending on your business's specific needs. Whether you're operating with tight monthly margins or require assistance with taxes, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, when evaluating online business bank accounts in Ireland, there are some important criteria to keep in mind:

  1. Account Fees: Online banks often offer different paid service tiers that may waive certain fees. It's important to assess whether the monthly membership cost justifies the waived fees.
  2. Digital-Only Access: If your business relies on cash or cheque deposits, digital banking may not be the most convenient option for you.
  3. Business Support: Many online banks integrate with finance and accounting apps, making transactions more streamlined and simplifying your financial management.
  4. Overdraft Facility: If occasional small debts are necessary for your business, having an overdraft facility can be beneficial. Not all banks offer this service, and those that do may charge overdraft fees.
  5. Credit Interest: Some banks allow you to earn interest on any excess cash held in your business account.

Compare the Best Business Bank Accounts in Ireland

To help you make an informed decision, our comparison guide at Monito presents the eight best online business accounts in Ireland. These accounts can automate your finances, support your business's growth, and free up your time to focus on developing your products and serving your customers:

Revolut Business — Best for Team Management

Revolut is a leader in the online financial services sector thanks to its low-cost multi-currency accounts, budget analytics software, and other innovative features. With over 12 million personal users, the London-based fintech is not only available in Ireland but around the world.

Revolut Business provides a wide variety of benefits for freelancers, sole traders, and small businesses. You can receive global payments, efficiently handle team expenses, and seamlessly exchange currencies without incurring hidden fees.

Revolut Business

Account name: Standard

Account type: Current (IBAN Number).

Total cost: Free, paid options available.

Noteworthy features: Forex futures rates, multi-currency balances.

Availability: Ireland, EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland, the US.

More info: See our full Revolut Business review.

Wise Business — Best Business Account for International Payments

Wise Business is considered one of the best money transfer service globally. They offer the low-cost Wise Business account and card in Ireland, along with some of the cheapest international transfers available. This account allows you to manage money in over 50 currencies and provides local bank details in 9 currencies.

With Wise Business, you can seamlessly collect money, withdraw funds from e-commerce stores in up to 9 currencies, and generate invoices using the provided bank details. When you're ready, you can convert your foreign currency revenue into your local currency at industry-best rates, saving you significant amounts compared to traditional banks.

Account name: Wise Business

Account type: Electronic Money Account (held by Barclays in the UK, Wells Fargo in the US, DBS in Singapore, etc.).

Total cost: €0 per month, €50 opening fee.

Noteworthy features: International money transfers, multiple account details, multi-currency balances.

Availability: Ireland, UK, EU/EEA, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.

More info: See our full Wise Business account review.

Fire — Great For Payment Services and Smart Technology

Fire stands out as a leading digital banking solution tailored for businesses in Britain and Ireland. With no setup costs or ongoing monthly maintenance fees, Fire provides a service called Open Payments, which allows customers to pay you directly from their accounts, helping you get paid faster, lower fees, and reduce fraud.

Account name: Fire Business Account

Account type: Current

Total cost: €0

N26 — Best for Freelancers and Sole-Traders

N26 Business stands out as a leading online bank in Ireland, offering a user-friendly mobile app and competitive pricing. Customers consistently provide positive feedback, highlighting the bank's exceptional service. As a fully-fledged bank operating within the European Union, N26 Business provides a reliable and secure banking experience catered to the specific needs of freelancers

Account name: Business Standard

Account type: Current

Total cost: €0

More info: See our full N26 account review.

Bank of Ireland — Startup Package For New Businesses

Bank of Ireland was established in 1783, making it one of the oldest financial institutions in Ireland. It offers the Business Start-up Account, which waives quarterly maintenance fees for two years and overdraft fees for the same period.

Account name: Start-up Account

Account type: Current

Total cost: €15 per quarter (waived for 2 years)

Permanent TSB — Standard High-Street Banking Option

Permanent TSB, a reputable financial institution in Ireland, offers business accounts that come with a quarterly maintenance fee of €8.00. Permanent TSB serves as a standard option for small business owners seeking banking services.

Account name: Current Account

Account type: Current

Total cost: €8 per quarter

Allied Irish Banks — Get 2 Years of Monthly Fees Waived

Allied Irish Bank (AIB) is one of the Big 4 banks in Ireland. AIB offers merchant services, allowing businesses to accept card payments and facilitate transactions with their customers.

Account name: Business Start Up account

Account type: Current

Total cost: €4.50 per quarter

Payoneer — Best for E-Commerce Businesses

Payoneer, an American financial services company, offers customers a range of digital payment services, access to working capital, money transfers, and the ability to access local bank details. With account numbers supporting AUD, GBP, USD, EUR, and five other currencies, Payoneer enables you to receive payments as if you were a local in those respective currencies. Due to its seamless integration with leading marketplaces across different currencies, Payoneer is an excellent choice for small businesses, freelancers, and companies operating in the borderless e-commerce market.

Account name: Payoneer

Account type: Current (Bank details for GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, SGD, JPY, and HKD).

Total cost: €0 to sign up.

Noteworthy features: Connects to thousands of marketplaces.

Availability: Global.

More info: See our full Payoneer Review.

The Best Online Small Business Accounts in Ireland Compared

To wrap things up, let's take a look at how the product, service, and fees of a few of the free online business accounts we explored compare to one another in Ireland:

Revolut Business

Wise Business

Payoneer

Account Name

Revolut Business Grow

Wise Business IMT

Payoneer Account

IBAN Bank Details Included

✔

Pay €50 one-time fee first

✔

Free Debit Card

✔

✔

✘

3D Secure

✔

✔

✔

Overdraft

✘

✘

✘

Free Multi-Director Access

✔

✔

✘

Accepts Cheque

✘

✘

✘

Invoicing Included

✔

✘

✔

Integrated Accounting

✔

✘

✔

Multi-Currency Accounts

2

9

8

Account Opening Fee

0

€50 one-time fee

€0, no monthly fee

Local Transfer Fee

5 free

Free

2% + €1.50

Currency Transfer Fee

0.004

From 0.43%

0.005

Int'l Card Transaction Fee

✘

✘

0.01

Deposit Protection

✔

✔

✔

No. of Customers

16 million

10 million

5 million

Trustpilot

4.4/5 (92K Reviews)

4.6/5 (140K Reviews)

4.4/5 (2.8K Reviews)

Customer Service

Email

Email

Email, resource center

Go to Revolut BusinessGo to Wise BusinessGo to Payoneer

Best Business Bank Accounts for Irish Small Businesses in 2024

We've compiled a list of the best accounts for small businesses and divided them into the following categories, the best for managing teams, international payments, managing invoices, freelancers, and e-Commerce businesses, and the best overall business bank account.

Best for Team Management — Revolut Business

Revolut Business — Track team spending with cards, budget analytics and great FX | Read our full review or go to their website.

Best for International Payments in Ireland — Wise Business

Wise Business — Make international payments at the real exchange rate | Read our full review or go to their website.

Best for Digital Payments and API Access — Fire

Fire — Great digital platform for connection to both Euro and Sterling accounts for small businesses in Ireland.

Best for Freelancers and Sole-Traders — N26

N26 — Great for freelancers in the EU, with no foreign transaction fees with your debit card | Read our full review or go to their website.

Startup Package For New Businesses — Bank of Ireland

Bank of Ireland — Good high-street business bank account choice, with bonus perk of access to co-working spaces.

Standard High-Street Banking Option — Permanent TSB

Permanent TSB — A standard high-street option with access to full banking services.

Best for Waived Monthly Fees — AIB

AIB — Startup business bank account option with monthly fees waived for first 2 years, to support young businesses.

Best for E-commerce — Payoneer

Payoneer — Tap into global markets and withdraw in 8 different currencies | Read our full review or go to their website.

FAQ About the Best Small Business Bank Accounts in Ireland

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