N26 Bank Account

€0
Monthly Fee
- Euro IBAN account
- 0% foreign currency fees
- Google Pay and Apple Pay
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N26 Bank Account
€0
Monthly Fee
Digital banks give you a whole bank in your pocket. These banks, also known as challenger banks and online banks, offer accounts with low fees, smart budgeting tools and more. Compare digital banks in Ireland and find out more about them below.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Digital bank accounts, also called online or app-based bank accounts, are bank accounts that are managed entirely online through your smartphone or computer.
These banks will charge far fewer fees than traditional Irish banks and also offer other useful features such as budgeting tools, smart money tracking and low-cost travel and money transfers.
There are several advantages to signing up with a digital bank:
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Here are a few things that you may not know about using your smartphone as your main point of contact with your bank, rather than having a traditional bank account:
Most of the big traditional banks in Ireland charge admin or transaction fees on current accounts that can range from €4-18 per quarter. There are sometimes ways to avoid these fees, such as maintaining a minimum balance in your account, but the fees are still quite high. Banks also charge fees for ATM withdrawals, card transactions and direct debit/standing orders.
However, digital banks charge far fewer fees. You will find that most will come with a “free” account option that charges €0 per month. Then, if you want to unlock more features you can pay a monthly fee. There are sometimes ATM fees but you will not pay fees for card transactions and there are no annual fees. You can also avoid some of the smaller charges by switching to a paid account.
Unlike traditional banks, digital banks in Ireland usually have limitations on how many ATM withdrawals you can make a month and do not offer cheque facilities. With prepaid cards, you have to load your account digitally through a bank transfer.
Digital banks tend to have better services in terms of foreign currency. Some let you hold multiple currencies in your account while others let you make international transfers faster and more cheaply than standard banks. No foreign currency fees also let you shop from websites abroad without paying too much for your purchase.
Not every digital bank is licenced in the same way. For example, Revolut has recently been granted a European banking licence which means your funds will be protected once it is implemented. Currently, funds are held in an account separate to Revolut and customers cannot deposit their salaries with them. However, N26 holds a German banking licence which means consumer deposits up to €100,000 are protected.
With traditional banks in Ireland you can sign up for an account in a branch or online. With digital banks in Ireland, you can only sign up on your smartphone. You’ll also not get access to Internet banking on your computer with most digital banks.
A benefit of an app-based bank is having full access to your account at all times through your digital banking smartphone app. Lots of digital banks allow temporary freezing of your account if you lose your card, so if you find it again it’s not as much hassle to get a replacement. If you forget your pin, digital banks also have access to a pin reminder after you complete a couple of security questions.
If you lose your phone or it’s stolen, you will still be able to secure your account. Just contact the digital bank (contact details will be on the website) and your account will be able to be locked from your smartphone. If you get your phone back, the bank will be able to set access back up again. If not, you can set up your app on your new phone.
There are a number of online banks available in Ireland. These include:
You can sign up with a digital bank in Ireland by downloading your chosen bank’s app onto your smartphone. You will need a few of your personal details to sign up, including your full name, date of birth, address and email address. You will need to confirm your identity and may need to deposit funds into your account to make it active. Then, your bank account will be created.
Digital bank accounts are quick to sign up to and easy to use and offer a range of advantages. Spend time comparing what each of them offer before you choose which one to go with. Our digital account comparison service makes it easy to explore a range of different account features and compare them in a matter of minutes.
Back to topElizabeth Barry is Finder's global fintech editor. She has written about finance for over five years and has been featured in a range of publications and media including Seven News, the ABC, Mamamia, Dynamic Business and Financy. Elizabeth has a Bachelor of Communications and a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Technology Sydney. In 2017, she received the Highly Commended award for Best New Journalist at the IT Journalism Awards. Elizabeth has found writing about innovations in financial services to be her passion (which has surprised no one more than herself).
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