N26 is the most popular fully digital bank in Ireland and they have over 5 million customers globally.
It is a fully licenced EU bank and the German Bank Guarantee covers all funds in N26 (up to €100,000).
There are no branches and accounts are operated using the N26 app on a smartphone or on a PC. (Smartphone required to set up an account)
Irish residents can sign up for N26 here
N26 and Joint Accounts
One thing that puts some people off using N26 in Ireland is that they don’t currently allow joint or shared accounts. You get just one debit card with N26 and the N26 app can only be activated on one phone.
But there are some ways around this to enable a free N26 bank account to be used almost like a joint account.
N26 works with Google Pay and Apple Pay – so if one of the couple uses the physical card and the other person uses the card on Google Pay or Apple Pay – they can both spend from the same account.
Visit N26 Website
Shared Spaces on N26
N26 have a new feature called Shared Spaces. This is only available on the paid-for “N26 You” account (€9.90 a month.) It is similar to a joint account – but not exactly the same.
Shared Spaces allows 2 or more (max 10) N26 account holders to share money together in one place. One N26 account holder sets up the shared space and invites others to join.
The person who originally created the shared space is the sole owner of the space and the funds in it, but they are granting ‘Power of Attorney’ to the other participants to allow them to transfer money in and out.
For example – the main account holder sets up a shared space with their partner. The partner agrees to transfer €500 a month to the shared space to cover bills. The main account holder then transfers money from the shared space into the “main” account.
Each participant can easily transfer money between the shared space and their own N26 account, and even keep track of all transaction activities just by viewing the space details.
Monese
Monese is a UK based digital payment company that also gives people living in Ireland the ability to have a UK Sterling account, with an account number and sort code.
You also get a Euro account and a Mastercard debit card with no foreign transaction fees on the first €2000 a month spend.
Joint accounts are allowed with Monese.
Monese accounts are not full bank accounts – but their account numbers are treated like any normal bank account for receiving payments.
Cash top-ups are possible using Payzone at many shops in Ireland. (fees and limits apply)
Monese is currently available to anyone living in Ireland or anywhere else within the European Economic Area (EEA).
Read more about Monese here or go to the Monese Website.
Revolut
Revolut is also popular in Ireland. It is an “electronic money institution