Ireland - Tourist
Information - Bank Offices
Irish
Currency
As in the rest
of Europe the Republic of Ireland has used the EURO since Jan 01,
2002.
There are 8 Euro coins denominated in 2€, 1€ (Eurasia),
50¢, 20¢, 10¢, 5¢, 2¢, and 1¢ (cents).
Every euro coin carries a common European face. On the reverse,
each European Member State have their own motifs. Most of the euro
coins in Ireland will carry Irish motifs but all euro coins are
accepted as valid currency.
There are 7
euro notes in denominations of 5€, 10€, 20€, 50€,
100€, 200€, and 500€ (euros). There is no difference
in notes throughout the euro zone.
If you are going
on to Northern Ireland, which is still part of the United Kingdom
you will find the pound sterling in use. English bank notes are
used and there are also notes from the Sterling Bank of Ireland,
Ulster Bank, Northern Bank and Scottish Bank notes all of which
are accepted in general exchange.
The pound (£) is made up of 100 pence (p). The most common
coins in circulation are of 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p and £1
and £2. Notes are issued in denominations of £5, £10,
£20 and £50, and £100 in Ireland.
The British
pound is not legal tender in the Republic of Ireland and although
some businesses in Northern Ireland will accept the Euro it is preferable
to carry pounds stirling.
Useful
Links:
Central
Bank of Ireland
Credit
Cards
All major credit
cards are accepted throughout Ireland. The most popular companies
being VISA, MASTERCARD, American Express and to a lesser extent
DINERS. You can also use payment cards within the networks Cirrus,
and Plus. The UK-based Switch system is not accepted in Ireland.
Money
Change
You can exchange
currency, travellers cheques, euro-cheques, personal cheques, obtain
credit card cash advances and arrange money transfers at all banks,
many building societies and at many branches of An Post - the Irish
Post Offices. Some hotels also exchange currency but often the best
rates are obtained at ATM (automatic cash dispensing machines).
If you are exchanging Travellers Cheques you will have to take your
passport with you.
Banks
and Building Societies
All of the banks
in Ireland will exchange your money or your travellers cheques.
Irish banks
are open: Monday to Friday - 10am to 4pm except on Thursdays when
Banks are open until 5pm. Some building societies are also open
on Saturdays.
Dublin
Allied Irish
Banks
37/38 O'Connell Street
Dublin 1
Tel: +353 1 873 1188
Fax:+ 353 1 873 1160
Website: Allied
Irish Banks
Bank of Ireland
6 Lower O'Connell Street
Dublin 1
Phone: + 353 1 878 7870
Fax: + 353 1 874 8335
Website:
Bank
of Ireland
Permanent
TSB
12/13 Lower O'Connell Street
Dublin
1
Tel: +353 1 878 8333
Fax: + 353 01 874 6391
Website: Permanent
TSB
EBS Building
Society
30/34 Westmoreland Street
Dublin 2
Website: EBS
Building Society
Bureaux
de Change
Dublin
A large number
Bureaux de Change can be found on Grafton Street and O'Connell Street.
There's also a Bureaux de Change and an ATM run by Bank of Ireland
at the airport.
Foreign Exchange Company of Ireland
12 Ely Place
Dublin 2
Tel: + 353 1 661 1800
American Express Travel Service
116 Grafton Street
Dublin 2
Tel: + 353 1 677 2874
Website: Amex.com
Thomas Cook
118 Grafton Street
Dublin 2
Tel: +353 1 677 1307
