Yes, completely free. When you open a bunq account from Ireland, you get an Irish IBAN instantly—and you can have up to 3 separate accounts, each with its own IBAN, to make budgeting easy. While Monzo also gives every customer a free Irish IBAN, bunq is the only one that lets you have multiple IBANs on a free plan.
bunq vs Monzo: which is better in Ireland?
Both give you a free Irish IBAN in minutes. Compare spending abroad, saving, and deposit protection side by side.
bunq vs Monzo: which is better in Ireland?
Both give you a free Irish IBAN in minutes. Compare spending abroad, saving, and deposit protection side by side.
bunq vs Monzo: which is better in Ireland?
Both give you a free Irish IBAN in minutes. Compare spending abroad, saving, and deposit protection side by side.
The short answer
Both bunq and Monzo offer free accounts and Irish IBANs.
Choose bunq if you want to save or spend in multiple currencies, split your budget across up to three separate Irish IBANs, or earn a higher savings rate.
Choose Monzo if you only bank in euro and want free joint or kids' accounts with integrated spending budgets.
The short answer
Both bunq and Monzo offer free accounts and Irish IBANs.
Choose bunq if you want to save or spend in multiple currencies, split your budget across up to three separate Irish IBANs, or earn a higher savings rate.
Choose Monzo if you only bank in euro and want free joint or kids' accounts with integrated spending budgets.
The short answer
Both bunq and Monzo offer free accounts and Irish IBANs.
Choose bunq if you want to save or spend in multiple currencies, split your budget across up to three separate Irish IBANs, or earn a higher savings rate.
Choose Monzo if you only bank in euro and want free joint or kids' accounts with integrated spending budgets.
bunq vs Monzo at a glance
Free personal accounts compared on what matters most. Updated June 2026.
| Feature | Monzo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish IBAN | Yes, free — up to 3 IBANs | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Open before you arrive | Yes — no PPSN needed | No — PPSN needed | Confirm requirements |
| Other currencies | 20+ currencies, fee-free abroad | Euro-focused at launch | Euro-focused at launch |
| Instant-access savings | 3.01%* | 1.6%* | 1.6% variable |
| Interest paid | Weekly | Monthly | Confirm |
| Savings withdrawals | Up to 3 free/month | Anytime | |
| Deposit protection | €100K, Dutch DGS | €100K, Irish DGS | €100K, Irish DGS |
| Joint & kids accounts | €3.99 | Free | Free |
| Monthly fee (free tier) | €0 | €0 | €0 |
bunq vs Monzo at a glance
Free personal accounts compared on what matters most. Updated June 2026.
| Feature | Monzo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish IBAN | Yes, free — up to 3 IBANs | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Open before you arrive | Yes — no PPSN needed | No — PPSN needed | Confirm requirements |
| Other currencies | 20+ currencies, fee-free abroad | Euro-focused at launch | Euro-focused at launch |
| Instant-access savings | 3.01%* | 1.6%* | 1.6% variable |
| Interest paid | Weekly | Monthly | Confirm |
| Savings withdrawals | Up to 3 free/month | Anytime | |
| Deposit protection | €100K, Dutch DGS | €100K, Irish DGS | €100K, Irish DGS |
| Joint & kids accounts | €3.99 | Free | Free |
| Monthly fee (free tier) | €0 | €0 | €0 |
bunq vs Monzo at a glance
Free personal accounts compared on what matters most. Updated June 2026.
| Feature | Monzo | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish IBAN | Yes, free — up to 3 IBANs | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Open before you arrive | Yes — no PPSN needed | No — PPSN needed | Confirm requirements |
| Other currencies | 20+ currencies, fee-free abroad | Euro-focused at launch | Euro-focused at launch |
| Instant-access savings | 3.01%* | 1.6%* | 1.6% variable |
| Interest paid | Weekly | Monthly | Confirm |
| Savings withdrawals | Up to 3 free/month | Anytime | |
| Deposit protection | €100K, Dutch DGS | €100K, Irish DGS | €100K, Irish DGS |
| Joint & kids accounts | €3.99 | Free | Free |
| Monthly fee (free tier) | €0 | €0 | €0 |
Disclaimer
Rate note (must sit directly under the table): bunq’s rate is variable. New savers earn 3.01% on all savings to begin with. After that, you earn 1.51% on your balance up to a personal threshold and 3.01% on anything above it. See “What your savings earn” below.
Disclaimer
Rate note (must sit directly under the table): bunq’s rate is variable. New savers earn 3.01% on all savings to begin with. After that, you earn 1.51% on your balance up to a personal threshold and 3.01% on anything above it. See “What your savings earn” below.
Disclaimer
Rate note (must sit directly under the table): bunq’s rate is variable. New savers earn 3.01% on all savings to begin with. After that, you earn 1.51% on your balance up to a personal threshold and 3.01% on anything above it. See “What your savings earn” below.
Get your Irish IBAN in 5 minutes
Both offer a free Irish IBAN. But bunq gives you up to 3, no PPSN needed. Monzo requires Irish residency and PPSN first.
Get your Irish IBAN in 5 minutes
Both offer a free Irish IBAN. But bunq gives you up to 3, no PPSN needed. Monzo requires Irish residency and PPSN first.
Get your Irish IBAN in 5 minutes
Both offer a free Irish IBAN. But bunq gives you up to 3, no PPSN needed. Monzo requires Irish residency and PPSN first.
For internationals
Skip the foreign exchange fees. Monzo limits you to the euro, but bunq lets you hold, spend, and manage money across 20+ currencies straight from your app.
For internationals
Skip the foreign exchange fees. Monzo limits you to the euro, but bunq lets you hold, spend, and manage money across 20+ currencies straight from your app.
For internationals
Skip the foreign exchange fees. Monzo limits you to the euro, but bunq lets you hold, spend, and manage money across 20+ currencies straight from your app.
Your money is protected
Both are licensed European banks. Your deposits are protected up to €100,000 under EU law—whether backed by the Dutch (bunq) or Irish (Monzo) central banks.
Your money is protected
Both are licensed European banks. Your deposits are protected up to €100,000 under EU law—whether backed by the Dutch (bunq) or Irish (Monzo) central banks.
Your money is protected
Both are licensed European banks. Your deposits are protected up to €100,000 under EU law—whether backed by the Dutch (bunq) or Irish (Monzo) central banks.
Earn more on your savings
Monzo pays 1.6% interest monthly, but bunq pays up to 3.01% interest weekly. On a €10,000 balance over one year, you can earn up to €301 with bunq, compared to €160 with Monzo.
Earn more on your savings
Monzo pays 1.6% interest monthly, but bunq pays up to 3.01% interest weekly. On a €10,000 balance over one year, you can earn up to €301 with bunq, compared to €160 with Monzo.
Earn more on your savings
Monzo pays 1.6% interest monthly, but bunq pays up to 3.01% interest weekly. On a €10,000 balance over one year, you can earn up to €301 with bunq, compared to €160 with Monzo.
How it works
New users get the top 3.01% rate on all savings from day one. To keep earning this rate, any new money you save above your previous peak balance earns the 3.01% bonus rate, while your remaining base balance earns 1.51%. Interest is calculated daily on balances up to €100,000 and paid out weekly.
How it works
New users get the top 3.01% rate on all savings from day one. To keep earning this rate, any new money you save above your previous peak balance earns the 3.01% bonus rate, while your remaining base balance earns 1.51%. Interest is calculated daily on balances up to €100,000 and paid out weekly.
How it works
New users get the top 3.01% rate on all savings from day one. To keep earning this rate, any new money you save above your previous peak balance earns the 3.01% bonus rate, while your remaining base balance earns 1.51%. Interest is calculated daily on balances up to €100,000 and paid out weekly.
“This app is so good, I downloaded it when promoters went around campus in Ireland. I've replaced Revolut and my regular banking app with this app. I also get interest payments!! I like it a lot and would recommend. Also it's such a nice looking card.”
Mollie D.
“This app is so good, I downloaded it when promoters went around campus in Ireland. I've replaced Revolut and my regular banking app with this app. I also get interest payments!! I like it a lot and would recommend. Also it's such a nice looking card.”
Mollie D.
“This app is so good, I downloaded it when promoters went around campus in Ireland. I've replaced Revolut and my regular banking app with this app. I also get interest payments!! I like it a lot and would recommend. Also it's such a nice looking card.”
Mollie D.
Join 20 million people banking with bunq
Sign up in 5 minutes.
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Name, address, email, and phone number—that's all we need.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Join 20 million people banking with bunq
Sign up in 5 minutes.
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Name, address, email, and phone number—that's all we need.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Join 20 million people banking with bunq
Sign up in 5 minutes.
1.
Download the bunq app
Get the app for iOS or Android.
2.
Fill in your details
Name, address, email, and phone number—that's all we need.
3.
Verify your ID
Verify your ID with a quick video selfie and start banking right away.
Choose your personal plan
Start simple. Upgrade when you want more ways to save, spend, and travel.
Choose your personal plan
Start simple. Upgrade when you want more ways to save, spend, and travel.
Choose your personal plan
Start simple. Upgrade when you want more ways to save, spend, and travel.
Frequently asked questions
A few quick answers to help you choose where to start.
Yes, as long as you're already living in a supported EEA country, you can open your bunq account before the move. Get your Irish IBAN set up, sorted, and ready to go before you've even packed a box.
bunq pays up to 3.01% interest, paid out weekly, so your money compounds faster. On a €10,000 balance over a year, that's up to €301 with bunq.
Monzo pays 1.6% monthly, which works out to €160 on the same balance.
Looking at this example, that's nearly double. Plus, your interest hits your account every week, not once a month.
Yes, your money is safe with bunq. bunq operates under a full European banking license given by the Dutch National Bank (DNB). This license includes the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), which insures up to €100,000 of your money.
Yes. Interest earned on your bunq savings is subject to DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax). bunq doesn't deduct this automatically, so you'll need to declare it yourself—usually through your annual tax return. Worth having a quick chat with a tax advisor if you're unsure how it applies to your situation.
Absolutely. There's no rule against holding multiple accounts, many people do. Some use Monzo for day-to-day spending and bunq for savings. Whatever works for you.
Frequently asked questions
A few quick answers to help you choose where to start.
Yes, completely free. When you open a bunq account from Ireland, you get an Irish IBAN instantly—and you can have up to 3 separate accounts, each with its own IBAN, to make budgeting easy. While Monzo also gives every customer a free Irish IBAN, bunq is the only one that lets you have multiple IBANs on a free plan.
Yes, as long as you're already living in a supported EEA country, you can open your bunq account before the move. Get your Irish IBAN set up, sorted, and ready to go before you've even packed a box.
bunq pays up to 3.01% interest, paid out weekly, so your money compounds faster. On a €10,000 balance over a year, that's up to €301 with bunq.
Monzo pays 1.6% monthly, which works out to €160 on the same balance.
Looking at this example, that's nearly double. Plus, your interest hits your account every week, not once a month.
Yes, your money is safe with bunq. bunq operates under a full European banking license given by the Dutch National Bank (DNB). This license includes the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), which insures up to €100,000 of your money.
Yes. Interest earned on your bunq savings is subject to DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax). bunq doesn't deduct this automatically, so you'll need to declare it yourself—usually through your annual tax return. Worth having a quick chat with a tax advisor if you're unsure how it applies to your situation.
Absolutely. There's no rule against holding multiple accounts, many people do. Some use Monzo for day-to-day spending and bunq for savings. Whatever works for you.
Frequently asked questions
A few quick answers to help you choose where to start.
Yes, completely free. When you open a bunq account from Ireland, you get an Irish IBAN instantly—and you can have up to 3 separate accounts, each with its own IBAN, to make budgeting easy. While Monzo also gives every customer a free Irish IBAN, bunq is the only one that lets you have multiple IBANs on a free plan.
Yes, as long as you're already living in a supported EEA country, you can open your bunq account before the move. Get your Irish IBAN set up, sorted, and ready to go before you've even packed a box.
bunq pays up to 3.01% interest, paid out weekly, so your money compounds faster. On a €10,000 balance over a year, that's up to €301 with bunq.
Monzo pays 1.6% monthly, which works out to €160 on the same balance.
Looking at this example, that's nearly double. Plus, your interest hits your account every week, not once a month.
Yes, your money is safe with bunq. bunq operates under a full European banking license given by the Dutch National Bank (DNB). This license includes the Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS), which insures up to €100,000 of your money.
Yes. Interest earned on your bunq savings is subject to DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax). bunq doesn't deduct this automatically, so you'll need to declare it yourself—usually through your annual tax return. Worth having a quick chat with a tax advisor if you're unsure how it applies to your situation.
Absolutely. There's no rule against holding multiple accounts, many people do. Some use Monzo for day-to-day spending and bunq for savings. Whatever works for you.
Ready to open your account?
A free Irish IBAN, opened in minutes from your phone. Spend abroad with low FX fees, keep your money protected up to €100,000, and earn interest weekly.
Ready to open your account?
A free Irish IBAN, opened in minutes from your phone. Spend abroad with low FX fees, keep your money protected up to €100,000, and earn interest weekly.
Ready to open your account?
A free Irish IBAN, opened in minutes from your phone. Spend abroad with low FX fees, keep your money protected up to €100,000, and earn interest weekly.