Travel7 minute read
Moving to Ireland from the US: Visas, Money, and Expat Banking
Everything US expats need to move to Ireland: visa options, cost of living, taxes, healthcare, and how to open an Irish bank account before you land.
Table of contents
Cancelling your Girokonto: what to do
Closing your Girokonto often takes just a few minutes, and depending on your bank, you may be able to do it straight from your banking app. Use this checklist to make sure everything is taken care of.
Switching to bunq? Further down, you’ll see how Switch Service helps you take your payments with you.
Check before you cancel
Before you close your account, go through these points:
Your account balance is exactly €0.00.
Scheduled payments, direct debits, and pending transfers are cleared.
Your salary and other regular income no longer go to this account.
Cards linked to the account are cancelled or returned.
No subscriptions or recurring fees are still billed to this account.
How to cancel, step by step
Check how your bank handles closures. Many let you do this directly in the app, others may want a signed form or letter.
Submit your cancellation and ask for a confirmation.
Wait for the confirmation before you treat the account as closed. Depending on your bank, this can take a few days.
Once your account is closed, your old IBAN will no longer work.
Make sure anyone who regularly sends you money has your new payment details. Think family members sending you the occasional gift, a tenant paying rent, or even a client you only invoice a couple of times a year.
Switching is easier with Switch Service
Switch Service redirects incoming payments and direct debits from your old bank to bunq. That means you don’t have to keep track of every incoming payment or share your new payment details with everyone yourself.
The statutory account switching service (§§ 20–22 ZKG) obliges the new account-holding bank, at your request, to inform your payment partners and to transfer standing orders and direct debits within the statutory deadlines.
German original: Der gesetzliche Kontowechselservice (§§ 20–22 ZKG) verpflichtet die neue kontoführende Bank, auf deine Anfrage hin Zahlungspartner zu informieren und Daueraufträge/Lastschriften innerhalb der gesetzlichen Fristen zu übertragen.
So switching takes less work on your side. Once you request Switch Service in the app, bunq contacts the payment partners still linked to your old account and moves your standing orders and direct debits over within the statutory deadline.
Read more about switching to bunq on our Switch Service page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to close a Girokonto?
It depends on your bank. Some banks close your account right away, while others have agreed a notice period with you or take a few days to process your request. An agreed notice period can be one month at most.
What does Switch Service actually do?
Once you request it in the app, Switch Service moves your standing orders and direct debits over from your old account, so you’re not tracking down every provider one by one.
The statutory account switching service (§§ 20–22 ZKG) obliges the new account-holding bank, at your request, to inform your payment partners and to transfer standing orders and direct debits within the statutory deadlines.
What do I need to check before closing my account?
Make sure your balance is exactly €0.00, nothing is scheduled or pending, and no cards or shared access are still linked.
Ready to switch? Request Switch Service in the app.
Share this post
Table of contents
Cancelling your Girokonto: what to do
Closing your Girokonto often takes just a few minutes, and depending on your bank, you may be able to do it straight from your banking app. Use this checklist to make sure everything is taken care of.
Switching to bunq? Further down, you’ll see how Switch Service helps you take your payments with you.
Check before you cancel
Before you close your account, go through these points:
Your account balance is exactly €0.00.
Scheduled payments, direct debits, and pending transfers are cleared.
Your salary and other regular income no longer go to this account.
Cards linked to the account are cancelled or returned.
No subscriptions or recurring fees are still billed to this account.
How to cancel, step by step
Check how your bank handles closures. Many let you do this directly in the app, others may want a signed form or letter.
Submit your cancellation and ask for a confirmation.
Wait for the confirmation before you treat the account as closed. Depending on your bank, this can take a few days.
Once your account is closed, your old IBAN will no longer work.
Make sure anyone who regularly sends you money has your new payment details. Think family members sending you the occasional gift, a tenant paying rent, or even a client you only invoice a couple of times a year.
Switching is easier with Switch Service
Switch Service redirects incoming payments and direct debits from your old bank to bunq. That means you don’t have to keep track of every incoming payment or share your new payment details with everyone yourself.
The statutory account switching service (§§ 20–22 ZKG) obliges the new account-holding bank, at your request, to inform your payment partners and to transfer standing orders and direct debits within the statutory deadlines.
German original: Der gesetzliche Kontowechselservice (§§ 20–22 ZKG) verpflichtet die neue kontoführende Bank, auf deine Anfrage hin Zahlungspartner zu informieren und Daueraufträge/Lastschriften innerhalb der gesetzlichen Fristen zu übertragen.
So switching takes less work on your side. Once you request Switch Service in the app, bunq contacts the payment partners still linked to your old account and moves your standing orders and direct debits over within the statutory deadline.
Read more about switching to bunq on our Switch Service page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to close a Girokonto?
It depends on your bank. Some banks close your account right away, while others have agreed a notice period with you or take a few days to process your request. An agreed notice period can be one month at most.
What does Switch Service actually do?
Once you request it in the app, Switch Service moves your standing orders and direct debits over from your old account, so you’re not tracking down every provider one by one.
The statutory account switching service (§§ 20–22 ZKG) obliges the new account-holding bank, at your request, to inform your payment partners and to transfer standing orders and direct debits within the statutory deadlines.
What do I need to check before closing my account?
Make sure your balance is exactly €0.00, nothing is scheduled or pending, and no cards or shared access are still linked.
Ready to switch? Request Switch Service in the app.
Share this post
Table of contents
Cancelling your Girokonto: what to do
Closing your Girokonto often takes just a few minutes, and depending on your bank, you may be able to do it straight from your banking app. Use this checklist to make sure everything is taken care of.
Switching to bunq? Further down, you’ll see how Switch Service helps you take your payments with you.
Check before you cancel
Before you close your account, go through these points:
Your account balance is exactly €0.00.
Scheduled payments, direct debits, and pending transfers are cleared.
Your salary and other regular income no longer go to this account.
Cards linked to the account are cancelled or returned.
No subscriptions or recurring fees are still billed to this account.
How to cancel, step by step
Check how your bank handles closures. Many let you do this directly in the app, others may want a signed form or letter.
Submit your cancellation and ask for a confirmation.
Wait for the confirmation before you treat the account as closed. Depending on your bank, this can take a few days.
Once your account is closed, your old IBAN will no longer work.
Make sure anyone who regularly sends you money has your new payment details. Think family members sending you the occasional gift, a tenant paying rent, or even a client you only invoice a couple of times a year.
Switching is easier with Switch Service
Switch Service redirects incoming payments and direct debits from your old bank to bunq. That means you don’t have to keep track of every incoming payment or share your new payment details with everyone yourself.
The statutory account switching service (§§ 20–22 ZKG) obliges the new account-holding bank, at your request, to inform your payment partners and to transfer standing orders and direct debits within the statutory deadlines.
German original: Der gesetzliche Kontowechselservice (§§ 20–22 ZKG) verpflichtet die neue kontoführende Bank, auf deine Anfrage hin Zahlungspartner zu informieren und Daueraufträge/Lastschriften innerhalb der gesetzlichen Fristen zu übertragen.
So switching takes less work on your side. Once you request Switch Service in the app, bunq contacts the payment partners still linked to your old account and moves your standing orders and direct debits over within the statutory deadline.
Read more about switching to bunq on our Switch Service page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to close a Girokonto?
It depends on your bank. Some banks close your account right away, while others have agreed a notice period with you or take a few days to process your request. An agreed notice period can be one month at most.
What does Switch Service actually do?
Once you request it in the app, Switch Service moves your standing orders and direct debits over from your old account, so you’re not tracking down every provider one by one.
The statutory account switching service (§§ 20–22 ZKG) obliges the new account-holding bank, at your request, to inform your payment partners and to transfer standing orders and direct debits within the statutory deadlines.
What do I need to check before closing my account?
Make sure your balance is exactly €0.00, nothing is scheduled or pending, and no cards or shared access are still linked.
Ready to switch? Request Switch Service in the app.
Share this post
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Explore more tips and stories from bunq.
Ready for easier banking?
Cancel your Girokonto without the stress: what to check first and how to make sure nothing gets missed.
Ready for easier banking?
Cancel your Girokonto without the stress: what to check first and how to make sure nothing gets missed.
Ready for easier banking?
Cancel your Girokonto without the stress: what to check first and how to make sure nothing gets missed.