We advise students to open a digital bank account. Revolut ( https://www.revolut.com/en-IE/ ) and Money Jar (https://moneyjar.world/ ) are both good options. This is a very quick way to open a bank account and requires less documentation. If you require a bank account for your job in Ireland, speak with your employer about which account he/she would prefer for you to have.
Alternatively, you can open a bank account at Bank of Ireland or AIB. These are Ireland’s 2 largest banks. AIB Rathgar is Emerald’s local bank (14 minutes from Palmerston Park on foot). However, opening an account at Bank of Ireland or AIB normally takes longer and requires more documentation which some students may not have!
For more information on opening a bank account at our local bank AIB Rathgar, please see below.
TO OPEN AN IRISH BANK ACCOUNT AT AIB BANK [in RATHGAR]
STEP 1: To open a bank account at AIB Rathgar you must:
*EU students do not have to be students for 6 months to open an account*
STEP 2: Book an appointment online.
https://branches.aib.ie/dublin/rathgar/9-terenure-road-east
Alternatively, you can go to the bank and book an appointment in person
STEP 3: Request your ECI Bank Letter
Please see below. You can collect your Bank Letter from the Student Welfare Office 2 days after requesting it online.
STEP 4: Have these documents ready for the bank
Brazil: CPF aka Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas (Natural Persons Register)
Chile: (8 numbers and 1 letter) RUT aka Rol Unico Tributario
China: Passport number.
Ireland: PPS
Japan: (12 numbers) Social Security and Tax Number System aka SHAKAI HOSHŌ ZEI BANGŌ SEIDO. It’s called “My Number”, translated as マイナンバー.
Korea: (13 numbers) Resident Registration Number aka 주민등록번호
Mexico: (4 letters followed by 6 digits and 3 alphanumeric characters for a total of 13) RFC aka Clave del Registro Federal de Contribuyentes
Oman: Passport number
Panama: (6 numbers) RUC aka Registro Unico de Contribuyentes
Saudi Arabia: Passport number
Taiwan: (1 letter + 9 characters) ID card aka 國民身分證
Turkey: (10 numbers) Turkish Identification Number aka T.C. Kimlik No.
IMPORTANT – the address on your ECI BANK Letter needs to be exactly the same as the address on your Irish Medical Insurance.
STEP 5: Go to AIB Rathgar
Bank: AIB Rathgar
Address: 9 Terenure Road East, Rathgar, Dublin 6
Click here for the location on Google Maps
It takes 7 to 9 days for the bank to send you your debit card and your PIN number (in 2 separate letters)
TO REQUEST A BANK LETTER FOR AIB RATHGAR , PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM BELOW AND PRESS ‘SUBMIT’ –