Bank account assistance in Ireland

Opening a business bank account is often the slowest step after incorporation, and it is harder for a founder who lives abroad. Banks set their own rules, ask for identity and ownership documents, and want to understand what the company does. Firms cannot promise an account, but an experienced one can prepare the file so the application is complete the first time.

Ask a firm what it actually does. Typical help is a document checklist, a business description the bank can read, certified copies, and an introduction to a bank or a payment provider. Check whether the firm charges a fee even if the bank refuses, and whether it will attend meetings or only prepare papers. Beneficial ownership details will be requested, so have the owners’ identity documents ready.

On a profile, check the entity types and the countries of the clients, and whether the firm states any authorisation of its own as a trust or company service provider. If the firm does not name its supervisor, ask which body supervises it for anti-money-laundering purposes.

Only 22 firms list this service, 17 accounting firms and 5 corporate services providers, which makes it a narrower field than accounting or tax. Nineteen are small and 3 are medium, and 15 say they serve foreign clients. For the steps before banking, see the company formation page and the Ireland guide.

Firms offering bank account assistance in Ireland

Frequently asked questions

Can a firm guarantee that I get a bank account?

No. The bank decides. A firm can prepare the application and explain what the bank wants, so ask what it does if the first bank declines and whether it charges for that.

What documents will a bank usually ask for?

Expect certificates of incorporation, identity and address proof for directors and owners, details of the company's activity and where it will trade. Ask the firm for the exact list, because each bank varies.

Do I need to visit Ireland to open an account?

It depends on the bank. Some require a visit or a video call and some accept certified documents. Ask the firm which route it has used for clients living abroad.

Other services in Ireland

Accountants by city in Ireland

Setting up a company in Ireland: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.