KBC exiting Ireland

So, you agree that current account holders don't provide any material business to the banks, but you expect to get a complicated service with high costs (customer service staff and branch locations) for nothing, and are surprised when it's not offered?

Free banking was a thing for a while, it has gradually been phased out except in markets where customer churn is very high and people tend to have multiple accounts with several different banks, and "winning customer share" is a myth some banks are still chasing. In those markets, banks are also ****. It's because banks are **** at infrastructural investment, which is ironic given that banking was one of the key drivers of computerisation, international data communications, and software development in the 60's and 70's.

I doubt HR are going to tell everyone it was a particular employee.

Company X is still breaking the law regardless.

If a huge niche supplier wanted to be paid into a new IBAN would they upgrade or say no.

Would they not blame the HR people for not testing the new software release properly before going live with the upgrade?

It is also to do with security threats to senior management.

Have a look at the threads in the work forum here about how employees share information about potential employers. That goes on right across social media. Ireland is still a pretty small place, so if an employer isn't able to pay salary to a large bunch of potential younger employees, word gets around among those communities fairly quickly. It would be a bit silly of a company to let their IT provider off the hook and exclude potential employees, in a competitive recruitment market.

I'm not sure if Revolut topup is charged by AIB as an online payment as it's through Google Pay (or Google Play). When I use phone via Google Pay, AIB won't charge - that I know. Even if Revolut topup costs, then you could topup just one a month then rather than whenever needed.

To setup a payee on PTSB need to use an online banking on the laptop, PC or tablet. On their app there's no such a function. Then it needs to be confirmed on the app. So if a person doesn't have an app or doesn't have a laptop, PC or tablet, then yes, need to go to branch.

AIB paper manual standing order cost 4.50 Euro to setup, but if you do that yourself on their online banking or app - that's for free.

With the AIB app not showing the codes it could be app settings which can be changed to back to show all notifications. All or some notifications of the app must have been turned off. Or reinstalling the app would help. I've seen BOI customers telling same and this normally resolves it.

It depends on what way you're sending money from AIB to N26: via IBAN or through Google Play. But again, I'm note, maybe both ways would accumulate the charge. I'm back to AIB just a month ago. When I'll get the statement of fees, I'll check this out.

IMO AIB is the only most professional and relevant bank in Ireland after UB and KBC leaving us. UB was good for their excellent app, KBC for easy, long opening hours and very competent customer service. I've also never seen a queue in their branches.

BOI in my eyes are irrelevant, old-school, very slow to respond (staff shortage?), with a nice, but inefficient customer service. I felt the pain watching my partner dealing with them on simple queries. We both now with AIB.

PTSB in my opinion isn't a bank. I doubt their qualification, everything is just badly organised and they also seem to be inefficient: long queues in branches, awful customer service on phone, app is very limited and old-fashion. This institution is for old people who doesn't need an excellent app and have plenty of time chatting while waiting in the queue. It's not for a new generation with modern needs. What also shocked me that PTSB employees don't communicate with each other. I ended up unnecessarily filling up the form in branch as one of the staff members couldn't find my originally completed form. She then went on to the lunch break while I was completing the the form once again. Another staff returned and she said they had it left here in the drawer and were waiting for me. They looked to me like a bunch of headless chickens. I didn't feel confident dealing with them.

AIB phone customer service used to be good, but I can't say that now. The last calls weren't pleasant, I felt I'm disturbing their peace, however, they at least gave a proper information, what I couldn't tell about the PTSB who normally cannot give a straight and correct answer (in my personal experience). I like AIB app as it's easy to use. The thing I dislike about the AIB is their short customer service hours (till 5pm), unlike KBC who're opening until 11pm.

I won't mention EBS - I don't consider them as a bank. A simple fact that to setup a DD you need to post them a completed paper form tells everything you need about them. AIB don't need them. I think, EBS should be sold to an international investor who could transform it to something like KBC but with even less branches.

Yeah I tried all that with the app and we still couldn't get them through. Don't know what was going on. Thanks for your input mate, very helpful. I agree completely on PTSB I'd be loathe to go them, I've seen the same issues via my wife and friend who both bank with them, but they're nearest and probably cheapest which is the only reason I'd consider them.

I suspect you are confusing what banks are required to do between themselves vs what consumers are allowed to do.

I was going to just use Revolut/N26 as well and have an Ulster Bank mortgage so hopefully there is a solution to this.

After lots of deliberating I decided to go with AIB. Went through the process on the app only for it to tell me they believe I already have an AIB account and I need to go to branch. That ain't happening, I want to avoid branches as much as possible. Last AIB account I had was 1996!

So I tried with PTSB and I can't do that either as the text codes they want to send me during the sign up process aren't coming through! Great stuff🤦

EDIT: turns out the PTSB messages are being presumed as spam so were being directed there without my input.

What utility companies don't accept non Irish accounts?

Would like to avoid opening an Irish bank account if possible

yes they are

No minimum balance or lodgement required with AIB current account. This was a thing a few years back.