🇮🇪 This is the brand hub for AIB in Ireland. For the bigger picture on Irish banking after the Ulster Bank exit, the Euronet trap in Temple Bar, and the trad-music session tip culture, see the Ireland Money Guide. For exact ATM addresses, see the Dublin ATM Guide. For card acceptance and TFI Tap transit, see the Dublin Money Guide. For the other half of the post-Ulster-Bank Irish duopoly, the Bank of Ireland guide.
🎧 Order Euros Before You Fly
Pre-order EUR 100-200 for trad-music session tips, B&B cash on the Wild Atlantic Way, and the Doolin / Galway pub rounds that go cash-only after 10pm. Insured 2–5 day shipping.
Order EUR → CEI Currency ExchangeWhat AIB is, in one paragraph
AIB (Allied Irish Banks plc) is the Republic of Ireland's largest retail bank by branch count, formed in 1966 by the merger of three older Irish banks: Munster and Leinster Bank, Provincial Bank of Ireland, and Royal Bank of Ireland. After the 2008-2010 Irish banking crisis (which saw the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Nationwide Building Society, and EBS Building Society), AIB was effectively nationalized: the Irish government took a 99.8 percent stake in 2010 in exchange for emergency capital. Since 2017, the government has been gradually re-privatizing AIB through public offerings, with the stake now under 25 percent. AIB operates roughly 170 branches across the Republic of Ireland plus a Northern Ireland subsidiary (First Trust Bank, sold to AIB's UK arm AIB GB), the AIB GB UK retail bank, and AIB Capital Markets. For US travelers in the Republic, the relevant operation is the Republic-of-Ireland retail branch network and ATM estate.
The 2023 Ulster Bank and KBC Ireland exits
The single biggest event in Irish retail banking in the past decade was the 2023 wind-down of both Ulster Bank and KBC Bank Ireland from the Republic. Ulster Bank (the RBS / NatWest Group's Irish subsidiary) had been Ireland's second or third-largest retail bank for decades, and KBC Bank Ireland was the Belgian KBC's local subsidiary. Both faced years of profitability challenges in the post-crisis Irish retail market and announced wind-down plans in 2021-2022. By 2023 both had closed their Republic of Ireland retail branch networks and exited consumer banking.
The practical effect for US travelers in 2026: AIB and Bank of Ireland now dominate Republic of Ireland retail banking, with Permanent TSB and An Post making up the rest. AIB absorbed large portions of Ulster Bank's loan book and acquired some Ulster customer accounts directly. The standalone Euronet machines that moved into the Dublin tourist core (Temple Bar, Trinity College, around the Spire on O'Connell Street, Henry Street) filled some of the convenience gap left by closed Ulster branches. Stick to AIB or Bank of Ireland branded ATMs; the green AIB logo and the navy-and-white Bank of Ireland logo are easy to spot.
What AIB charges foreign cards at ATMs
| Fee component | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| AIB operator fee (foreign card) | €0 | AIB Allied Irish Banks |
| Exchange rate | Mid-market (interbank) | Visa or Mastercard network |
| Visa / Mastercard network fee | ~1% | Card network, baked into total |
| Your home bank's foreign ATM fee | $2-5 | Your home bank, unless waived (Schwab, Wise) |
| Your home bank's FX conversion fee | 1-3% | Your home bank, unless 0% FX card |
| DCC markup (if surfaced) | +4-12% | Always decline. AIB rarely surfaces DCC; pick EUR every time. |
Real AIB ATMs display the green AIB logo. The bright-blue standalone Euronet machines that have moved into Dublin tourist spots post-Ulster-Bank exit charge a EUR 1.99 to EUR 3.50 surcharge plus push DCC.
Where to find AIB branches in Dublin and around Ireland
Dublin: AIB flagship branch on the corner of Grafton Street and South King Street near St. Stephen's Green has multiple ATMs on the wall outside. Additional branches at 7-12 Lower O'Connell Street, on Dame Street near City Hall, at 1 Lower Abbey Street near Connolly Station, at Smithfield Square, on Rathmines Road Lower in South Dublin, and inside the IFSC retail concourse. AIB head office is at 10 Molesworth Street.
Cork: AIB main Cork branch at 66 Patrick Street near the corner of Bowling Green Street. Additional branches at Cork Airport, in the Mahon Point shopping centre, and at Douglas Court.
Galway: AIB main Galway branch at 1 Eyre Square (opposite the bus and train station). Useful for travelers starting the Wild Atlantic Way driving loop; top up here before heading into Connemara where ATM density thins.
Limerick: AIB main Limerick branch at 106-108 O'Connell Street, plus branches in the Crescent shopping centre and at Limerick Junction.
Killarney: AIB main Killarney branch at New Street, useful before driving the Ring of Kerry or the Iveragh peninsula where rural ATM coverage is thin.
Dublin Airport: AIB ATMs inside DUB Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals (landside near the customs exit). See the DUB airport currency guide for the trap-free routing through arrivals.
Why AIB is not the BoA Alliance pick (no Irish Alliance partner exists)
Ireland does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner. Unlike the UK (Barclays), France (BNP Paribas), Germany (Deutsche Bank), Canada (Scotiabank), or Spain (Banco Santander), there is no Irish bank that waives BoA's 3 percent non-network surcharge. AIB charges zero on the Irish side, but BoA debit cards still pay the BoA-side surcharge.
For BoA customers, the cleanest setup in Ireland is: Wise or Charles Schwab debit (zero foreign-transaction fee, free at every AIB ATM) for everything except the trad-pub session tip jars in Doolin and Galway and small-town B&Bs along the Wild Atlantic Way, where pre-ordered euros from CEI cover the cash-only scenarios. Schwab refunds operator fees on the rare standalone Euronet machine you might encounter in Temple Bar.
Best card pairing with AIB
Wise + AIB is the cleanest Irish combo
Wise debit at any AIB ATM in Ireland: zero on the Irish side, zero FX markup on the Wise side, real interbank rate. Plus Wise debit works at the contactless TFI Tap readers on every Dublin Bus, Luas, and DART. Total cost on a EUR 200 withdrawal: under $2.
Get the Wise Card →Charles Schwab Investor Checking
Schwab refunds operator fees on the rare standalone Euronet machines that have moved into Dublin tourist spots post-Ulster-Bank exit, and adds zero foreign-transaction fee. Combined with AIB's zero, Schwab is a free Irish withdrawal.
Capital One Venture / Quicksilver / Savor (credit, for purchases only)
Capital One credit cards have zero foreign-transaction fees and work cleanly at every Irish restaurant, hotel, and shop on the modern card-accepting side of the economy. Never use them at an AIB ATM (any credit card at any ATM is a cash advance: 5 percent fee, immediate interest accrual at 25 percent APR, no grace period).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does AIB charge foreign cards at ATMs?
Zero operator fee on every AIB ATM. Real Visa or Mastercard interbank rate. Your only cost is whatever your home bank charges (1-3 percent typical; zero with Wise or Schwab).
Is AIB in the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance?
No. Ireland has no BoA Alliance partner. AIB charges zero on the Irish side, but BoA debit cards pay the BoA-side 3 percent surcharge.
How did the Ulster Bank exit change Irish banking?
Ulster Bank and KBC Bank Ireland both wound down their Republic of Ireland retail operations in 2023. AIB absorbed large portions of Ulster's loan book and is now the largest Irish retail bank by branch count. Standalone Euronet machines moved into the gap in Dublin tourist core.
Where are AIB branches in Dublin?
Grafton Street and South King Street flagship near St. Stephen's Green. Additional at Lower O'Connell Street, Dame Street, Connolly Station, Smithfield, and the IFSC. Head office at 10 Molesworth Street.
Should I use AIB or Bank of Ireland?
Both charge zero operator fee. AIB has more branches in greater Dublin and rural Ireland post-Ulster-Bank exit. Bank of Ireland has the most prominent central-Dublin locations. Either is fine.
Are there AIB ATMs at Dublin Airport?
Yes. DUB Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals (landside) both have AIB ATMs. Zero operator fee on foreign cards. See the DUB airport guide for the trap-free routing.
Will my US debit card work at AIB ATMs?
Yes, as long as it carries Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, V Pay, Plus, or Cirrus. AIB accepts all six. Most US banks no longer require a travel notice for Ireland.
The Wise + AIB Combo
Zero FX markup at every AIB ATM in Ireland. Plus Wise works at TFI Tap.
Get the Wise Card →