With the closure of KBC and Ulster Bank, over 120,000 customers will be searching for their new banking service. Ulster Bank will be issuing letters shortly to account owners to begin the process of transferring to a new bank. Ulster Bank will be providing account holders with 6 months to make the switch to their new bank.
The moving process is expected to span over a year, which will be done on a staggered basis. KBC have sold their deposit accounts to Bank of Ireland. However Bank of Ireland have not agreed to take the current accounts, and they have to be moved elsewhere. You may be in the same position as some of our clients find themselves in as a current account holder with KBC or Ulster Bank, if so you may wish to consider the following when selecting your new bank:
Do I Require a Full Service Bank?
A full service bank contains options for current, deposit, overdraft accounts etc. These banks include AIB, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB. You should consider and compare charges for transactions, monthly/quarterly fees, caps on savings and negative interests when choosing what bank suits your needs. There are also online banking options such as Revolut and N26 which have now acquired European banking licenses. These new licenses can provide you with an IBAN, allowing you to set up your salary, direct debits, etc. These services seem more cost efficient but there are higher withdrawal fees or a % fee applied to withdrawals that go over the free allowance limit.
It will be up to the individual to inform employers, tenants or anyone who lodges money into their account of their new bank details. This also applies for direct debit transactions etc. Talk to your new bank about a new switching pack which will help move over any direct debits as seamlessly as possible. You should also ensure your account details on Revenue Online (ROS) are updated to allow you to make your tax payments from the updated account.
What Are my Next Steps?
Once you have opened an account with your new bank, you must close your account with Ulster Bank and KBC. Ulster Bank have recently begun to issue closure forms to their account holders which can be filled out and posted back to the bank. Once the request is submitted it can take 5-7 working days for the account to close. In this time, you should not use your account as it may delay the closing procedure. Also check that there are no pending transactions and the account has been inactive for 24 hours.
After Closing your Account
- Securely destroy all cards, cheque books and pre-printed cheques associated with the account
- Update standing orders and direct debit payments with your new bank
- Inform originators of credits to Ulster Bank and KBC of your new account details
What do I Need to Set up a New Bank Account?
- Photo identification,
- A recent bank statement
- A recent utility bill
- Your PPS number (might not be mandatory).
If you wish to discuss further or require assistance, please contact us
Related content
