Bunq Ireland Review 2026: Best Savings Rate for Lump Sums?

Bunq offers 2%+ interest on savings with instant access. Is it safe? How does it work for Irish savers? Full review.

By SmartSaver Team | Published 1 January 2026 | 6 min read

Topics: bunq ireland, bunq review, neobank savings, instant access savings

Bunq offers one of the best instant-access savings rates available to Irish savers. Here's everything you need to know.

Bunq at a Glance

| Feature | Detail | |---------|--------| | Interest Rate | 2.01% (up to 2.51% with bonus) | | Maximum | €100,000 | | Access | Instant | | Protection | Dutch DGS (€100,000) | | Fees | Free account available | | App Quality | Excellent |

---

Current Bunq Savings Rates

| Account Type | Base Rate | Bonus Rate | How to Get Bonus | |--------------|-----------|------------|------------------| | Easy Bank (Free) | 2.01% | Up to 2.51% | New deposits above 6-month threshold | | Easy Money (€3.99/mo) | 2.01% | Up to 2.51% | Same | | Easy Green (€18.99/mo) | 2.16% | Up to 2.66% | Higher base for eco account |

Understanding the Bonus Rate

Bunq's "bonus" rate can be confusing:

Base rate: Applies to existing balance
Bonus rate: Applies to NEW savings above your balance from 6 months ago

Practical advice: Don't chase the bonus. The base 2.01% is excellent for instant access.

---

Why Choose Bunq?

1. Best Instant Access Rate

At 2.01%, Bunq beats:

AIB (0.25%)
BOI (0.10%)
Trade Republic (2.00%—slightly lower)
Revolut Standard (1.50%)

2. Genuinely Instant Access

No notice period. Withdraw anytime via:

Bank transfer
Bunq card (if you have one)
Apple Pay / Google Pay

3. Multiple Savings Accounts

Create separate accounts for different goals:

Emergency fund
Holiday savings
House deposit
Car fund

All earn the same rate.

4. Free Account Option

"Easy Bank" is completely free:

€0/month
2.01% on savings
1 bank account
Bunq debit card

5. Excellent App

Bunq's app is genuinely good:

Clean, modern interface
Real-time notifications
Easy account management
Available iOS/Android

---

Is Bunq Safe?

Yes. Bunq is a fully licensed EU bank.

| Safety Factor | Detail | |---------------|--------| | Bank License | Dutch banking license | | Regulator | De Nederlandsche Bank | | Deposit Guarantee | Dutch DGS | | Protection | €100,000 per person |

How Does This Compare to Irish Banks?

Identically. The EU Deposit Guarantee Directive ensures:

€100,000 protection across all EU banks
Payout within 7 working days if bank fails
No difference between Dutch and Irish guarantee

---

Opening a Bunq Account

Requirements

Smartphone (iOS or Android)
Photo ID (passport or national ID)
Resident in supported country (Ireland ✅)
18 years or older

Step-by-Step

Download Bunq app from App Store / Play Store

Choose account type (Easy Bank for free)

Verify identity with photo ID + selfie

Wait for approval (usually minutes to hours)

Get your IBAN (Dutch IBAN starting NL)

Transfer money from Irish bank

Start earning 2.01% immediately

How Long Does It Take?

Account approval: Usually under 24 hours
First transfer: Same day or next day
Total time: Can be done in one afternoon

---

Transferring Money to Bunq

From Irish Bank (AIB, BOI, etc.)

Log into Irish bank

Add Bunq as new payee (use your NL IBAN)

Transfer desired amount

Money arrives same day or next morning

Fees

SEPA transfers: Free (standard euro transfers)
Bunq doesn't charge for incoming transfers
Your Irish bank typically doesn't charge for SEPA

---

Bunq vs Competitors

Bunq vs Trade Republic

| Factor | Bunq | Trade Republic | |--------|------|----------------| | Rate | 2.01% | 2.00% | | Max earning | €100,000 | €50,000 | | Free account | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | | Multiple savings pots | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | | Investment features | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |

Choose Bunq if: You want pure savings with organisation features Choose Trade Republic if: You also want to invest

Bunq vs AIB

| Factor | Bunq | AIB Demand Deposit | |--------|------|-------------------| | Rate | 2.01% | 0.25% | | After DIRT | 1.19% | 0.15% | | On €50,000 | €593/year | €74/year | | Access | Instant | Instant | | Protection | €100,000 (Dutch) | €100,000 (Irish) |

Bunq pays 8x more on lump sum savings.

---

Pros and Cons

Pros

✅ Best instant access rate (2.01%) ✅ Free account option ✅ Dutch banking license (full EU protection) ✅ Excellent app ✅ Multiple savings pots ✅ DIRT handled automatically ✅ No notice period

Cons

❌ Dutch IBAN (some Irish services prefer IE) ❌ No branches (online only) ❌ Bonus rate system is confusing ❌ No investment features ❌ Premium tiers expensive for just savings

---

Verdict

Rating: 4.5/5

Bunq offers the best instant-access savings rate available to Irish savers. The app is excellent, the free account includes everything most people need, and your money is fully protected by EU deposit guarantee.

Recommendation: Move your lump sum savings from AIB/BOI to Bunq. Keep your Irish account for daily banking and direct debits.

---

Last updated: January 2026

---