Best Savings Accounts Ireland 2026 (Actually Compared)
From SmartSaver.ie, Ireland's independent comparison site. Prices and rates in this guide are checked weekly.
Compare the best savings accounts in Ireland for lump sums and regular savers. See real rates after DIRT tax, not misleading headlines.
By SmartSaver Team | Published 1 January 2026 | Updated 23 October 2026 | 8 min read
Topics: best savings accounts ireland, savings rates, lump sum savings, regular saver
Prices and rates on this page update automatically from provider websites, checked weekly. Correct as of 2 November 2026.
The Rate You See vs The Rate You Get
| What Banks Advertise | Who It's For | What Most People Get | |---------------------|--------------|---------------------| | AIB 3.00% | Monthly deposits up to €1,000 | 0.25% on lump sums | | BOI 3.00% | Monthly deposits up to €2,500 | 0.10% on lump sums | | "Up to 3%" | New regular savers only | 0.10-0.25% for existing savings |
Got a lump sum sitting in savings? You need an instant access account, not a regular saver. The rates are completely different.---
Best for Lump Sums (Instant Access)
If you have €5,000, €20,000, or €100,000 sitting in savings, these are your best options:
| Provider | Product | Rate | Min Deposit | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bunq | Savings Account | 3.11% AER | €0 | None |
| Raisin (Raisin Starter Account) | Demand Deposit | 3.1% AER | €1 | None |
| Trade Republic | Savings Account | 3.04% AER | €1 | None |
| Revolut | Instant Access Savings (Ultra) | 2.75% AER | €0 | None |
| Raisin (Nordax Bank) | Demand Deposit | 2.52% AER | €1 | None |
| Raisin (Banca CF+) | Demand Deposit | 2.52% AER | €1 | None |
| Raisin (BluOr Bank) | Demand Deposit | 2.5% AER | €1 | None |
Live data from SmartSaver.ie, checked weekly. Prices correct as of 2026-11-02. Full comparison: https://www.smartsaver.ie/savings
Remember DIRT: multiply any rate by 0.67 for your after-tax return (33% DIRT applies to all of these, see DIRT explained). All accounts listed are covered by an EU deposit guarantee up to €100,000.
Our Recommendation: Bunq or Trade Republic
The best instant-access rate right now is 3.11% AER (Bunq). See the live table above for how the rest compare.
Why Bunq:- Consistently among the highest instant-access rates on up to €100,000
- Free account available
- Instant access anytime
- Dutch deposit guarantee (same as Irish)
- App-based, opens in minutes
- Consistently competitive on up to €50,000
- Also an investment platform (if you want)
- Partner bank deposit guarantee (€100,000)
- Clean, simple interface
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Best for Monthly Savings (Regular Savers)
If you can commit to saving €100-€1,000 per month, these rates are genuinely good:
| Provider | Product | Rate | Min Deposit | Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIB | Online Saver | 3% AER | €10 | None |
| EBS | Family Savings Account | 3% AER | €100 | None |
| Bank of Ireland | SuperSaver | 3% AER | €5 | None |
| State Savings | 6 Year Instalment Savings | 2.33% AER | €25 | None |
| Bank of Ireland | GoalSaver | 2% AER | €20 | None |
Live data from SmartSaver.ie, checked weekly. Prices correct as of 2026-11-02. Full comparison: https://www.smartsaver.ie/savings
The Catch with Regular Savers
These 3% rates have limitations:
- Only applies to new deposits each month
- Maximum €1,000-€2,500/month
- Often only for first 12 months
- Your existing lump sum earns almost nothing
- Your €30,000 earns 0.25% = €75/year
- Your new €500/month earns 3% = ~€97/year (on average balance)
- Total: ~€172/year on €36,000 = effective rate of 0.48%
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Best for Tax-Free Returns (State Savings)
State Savings fixed-term products are exempt from DIRT. This makes them competitive despite lower headline rates:| Product | Rate | Term | Tax-Equivalent Rate | |---------|------|------|---------------------| | 10-Year National Solidarity Bond | 2.66% | 10 years | 3.97% | | 5-Year Savings Certificate | 2.29% | 5 years | 3.42% | | Savings Bond | 1.96% | 3 years | 2.93% |
When State Savings Make Sense
- You won't need the money for 3-10 years
- You're in the 33% DIRT bracket (everyone is)
- You want guaranteed, government-backed returns
- Bunq at up to 3.11% after DIRT = 2.08% (its 1.61% base rate = 1.08%)
- State Savings 5-Year at 2.29% tax-free = 2.29%
- State Savings wins if you can lock away for 5 years
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Best for Higher Returns (Fixed Term via Raisin)
Raisin gives Irish savers access to EU bank rates:| Provider | Product | Rate | Min Deposit | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia) | 10 Years Fixed | 3.65% AER | €5000 | 120 months |
| Raisin (Achmea Bank) | 10 Years Fixed | 3.61% AER | €5000 | 120 months |
| Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia) | 8 Years Fixed | 3.6% AER | €5000 | 96 months |
| Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia) | 9 Years Fixed | 3.6% AER | €5000 | 108 months |
| Raisin (Achmea Bank) | 8 Years Fixed | 3.56% AER | €5000 | 96 months |
| Raisin (Achmea Bank) | 9 Years Fixed | 3.56% AER | €5000 | 108 months |
Live data from SmartSaver.ie, checked weekly. Prices correct as of 2026-11-02. Full comparison: https://www.smartsaver.ie/savings
The current best fixed-term rate is 3.65% AER (Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia), 10 Years Fixed). Longer terms generally pay more. Check the term column before committing.
Is Raisin Safe?
Yes. Each bank on Raisin is covered by its home country's deposit guarantee (€100,000). This is the same protection level as Irish banks.
Note: DIRT is not deducted at source. You must declare interest to Revenue.---
Quick Decision Guide
"I have €10,000 sitting in AIB doing nothing"
Move to a neobank instant-access account: the best rate is currently 3.11% AER (Bunq) vs 0.10-0.25% at the pillar banks. On €10,000 that's the difference between hundreds and pennies per year."I want to save €500/month"
Open a regular saver: the best rate is currently 3% AER (AIB) on new monthly deposits. Keep your existing lump sum elsewhere for best returns."I won't need this money for 5+ years"
State Savings Certificate (tax-free, no DIRT) or a Raisin fixed term, currently up to 3.65% AER (Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia), 10 Years Fixed)."I want the absolute highest rate"
A fixed term via Raisin: currently 3.65% AER (Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia), 10 Years Fixed). Note: your money is locked for the term."I just want simple and safe"
Bunq or Trade Republic: instant access, currently 3.11% AER (Bunq). EU-protected, app-based, takes 10 minutes to set up.---
Understanding DIRT Tax
DIRT (Deposit Interest Retention Tax) = 33%This applies to almost all savings interest in Ireland. Banks deduct it automatically.
| Gross Rate | After DIRT (33%) | |------------|------------------| | 3.00% | 2.01% | | 2.50% | 1.68% | | 2.00% | 1.34% | | 1.50% | 1.01% | | 1.00% | 0.67% |
Exception: State Savings' fixed-term products and Prize Bonds are DIRT-free (the State Savings Deposit Account is not). Full DIRT Tax Guide →---
Are Neobanks Safe?
Common concern: "Is my money safe in Bunq/Trade Republic/Revolut?"
Yes. Here's why:| Provider | Guarantee | Protection | Same as Irish Banks? | |----------|-----------|------------|---------------------| | Bunq | Dutch DGS | €100,000 | ✅ Yes | | Trade Republic | Partner banks' DGS | €100,000 | ✅ Yes | | Revolut | Lithuanian or German DGS | €100,000 | ✅ Yes | | N26 | German DGS | €100,000 | ✅ Yes |
The €100,000 deposit guarantee is EU-wide. Dutch, German, or Lithuanian protection is legally equivalent to Irish protection.
Full Deposit Guarantee Guide →---
Why Irish Banks Pay So Little
AIB and Bank of Ireland made ~€2 billion profit each in recent years. Part of this comes from:
Irish savers are collectively missing out on ~€3 billion per year by leaving money in low-rate accounts.
The fix: Move your money. Neobanks and EU alternatives pay 10-20x more.---
How to Switch (It's Easy)
To Bunq:
To Trade Republic:
To Raisin:
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Summary: Best Savings Accounts 2026
| Situation | Best Choice | Current Rate | |-----------|-------------|--------------| | Lump sum, instant access | Best instant-access account | 3.11% AER (Bunq) | | Monthly savings | Best regular saver | 3% AER (AIB) | | Highest rate (fixed term) | Best fixed term | 3.65% AER (Raisin (Deutsche Bausparkasse Badenia), 10 Years Fixed) | | Long-term, tax-free | State Savings | No DIRT, see State Savings guide |
Don't leave money in AIB/BOI instant access accounts. You're earning 0.10-0.25% when you could earn many times that.Prices and rates on this page update automatically from provider websites, checked weekly. Correct as of 2 November 2026.
Rates on this page refresh automatically from provider websites, checked weekly. Always verify with the provider before opening an account.---