Online business accounts and neobanks in Ireland

Snapshot

App based providers serve business customers in Ireland alongside the high street banks. Revolut Business and Wise are the most widely used, and the traditional banks also offer online onboarding for some legal forms. The key distinction is the licence behind the account, since a full banking licence can bring a deposit guarantee, while an electronic money provider safeguards funds instead.

What is available: App based providers such as Revolut Business and Wise, plus online onboarding from high street banks for some forms, as of 3 March 2026.
Licence matters: Revolut operates with a European Central Bank banking licence and issues an Irish IBAN. Wise operates as an electronic money provider.
Common strengths: Fast onboarding, multi currency, cards and accounting software feeds.
What to check: Deposit protection, whether you can lodge cash, and whether the account details are an Irish IBAN.

Fees and features as of 3 March 2026Last reviewed 3 March 2026

General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.

Online providers are a mainstream option for business banking in Ireland. App based accounts such as Revolut Business and Wise sit alongside the high street banks, and the traditional banks also offer online onboarding for some legal forms. The distinction that matters most is the licence behind the account, because a full banking licence can bring a deposit guarantee on eligible deposits, while an electronic money provider safeguards customer funds instead. Details below are shown as of 3 March 2026.

What is on offer in Ireland

The online category in Ireland spans two kinds of provider. Revolut Business operates with a European Central Bank banking licence, issues an Irish IBAN, and offers cards, multi currency and feeds into accounting software, with fast app based onboarding. Wise offers a business account with local account details in several currencies and conversion at its published rate, but it is an electronic money provider rather than a bank. Alongside these, the high street banks have moved more onboarding online, and a sole trader can often start an application on a bank website. Confirm the current feature set with each provider, since plans and limits change. As of 3 March 2026.

Banking licence or electronic money

The licence behind an account changes how your money is protected. A provider with a full banking licence can offer eligible deposits the protection of a deposit guarantee scheme up to the scheme limit. An electronic money provider does not take deposits in the same way, and instead safeguards customer funds, usually by holding them separately at a bank, which is a different form of protection. Revolut operates with a European Central Bank banking licence, while Wise operates as an electronic money provider. Neither arrangement is automatically better, but they are not the same, so check which one applies before you move your main balance. As of 3 March 2026

What to check before you switch

Whether you can lodge cash, since app based providers often limit or do not offer cash handling, which matters for a retail or trade business.
Whether the account details are an Irish IBAN, which can matter where a counterparty or a state body only accepts local details.
The deposit protection that applies, and the total monthly fee plus per item charges for your usage, read from the provider fee schedule.

Compare business accounts available in Ireland

These providers accept business customers in Ireland, including app based and traditional options. Fees and eligibility shown as of 3 March 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.

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Questions about online accounts and neobanks in Ireland

What online business accounts are available in Ireland?

App based providers such as Revolut Business and Wise serve business customers in Ireland, and the high street banks also offer online onboarding for some legal forms, as of 3 March 2026. Revolut operates with a European Central Bank banking licence and issues an Irish IBAN, while Wise is an electronic money provider. Confirm current features with each provider. This is general information, not advice.

Is a neobank a real bank in Ireland?

It depends on the provider. Some hold a full banking licence, so eligible deposits can be covered by a deposit guarantee scheme. Others operate as electronic money providers, where customer funds are safeguarded rather than covered by a deposit guarantee. Revolut operates with a European Central Bank banking licence, while Wise operates as an electronic money provider, as of 3 March 2026. Check the licence with the provider.

Do online providers in Ireland give an Irish IBAN?

Some do and some do not. Revolut Business issues an Irish IBAN, while Wise provides account details in several countries but does not issue an Irish IBAN, as of 3 March 2026. An Irish IBAN can matter where a counterparty or a state body only accepts local account details. Verify the current position with the provider.

Can an online provider replace a high street bank in Ireland?

For many businesses it can cover day to day payments, cards and multi currency, but cash lodgement is often limited or not offered by app based providers, and deposit protection differs between a licensed bank and an electronic money provider. Weigh those trade offs against your needs, as of 3 March 2026. Verify the current features with the provider.

Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 3 March 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.