Moving money between banks in Ireland is simpler than many people expect — once you know which buttons to press. Whether you use AIB, PTSB, or Bank of Ireland, the SEPA system means euro transfers work the same way across all three. Own-account transfers happen instantly, and SEPA Instant payments reach any payment account within 10 seconds, 24 hours a day. This guide walks you through the exact steps, timings, and safety checks — no jargon, no guesswork.

4 related posts

Transfers between own accounts: Instant · SEPA Instant Credit Transfer: Within 10 seconds · PTSB transfer options: SEPA Credit Transfer, Instant, Urgent · AIB Mobile Banking steps: Log in > Pay & Transfer > Select option · Bank of Ireland euro transfers: Instant to payments accounts

Quick snapshot

1Online Banking
2SEPA Credit Transfer
  • Standard euro payments (PTSB)
  • PTSB option for same/next day (PTSB)
3Instant Payments
  • Within 10 seconds (PTSB)
  • Central Bank mandated (PTSB)
4Urgent Credit Transfer

The table below consolidates the core facts about SEPA transfer speeds and regulatory requirements.

Fact Detail
Own account transfers Instant
SEPA Instant max time 10 seconds
Mandatory for banks SEPA instant credit transfers

How do I transfer money between my different banks?

Using AIB Mobile Banking

To move money between your own AIB accounts, or to a different Irish account, you start the same way: log into Internet Banking, head to the Pay & Transfer menu, and choose whether you’re moving between your own accounts or sending to someone else in the Republic of Ireland (AIB Help Centre). If it’s a one-off payment to another Irish account, the path is Pay & Transfer > To another Irish account > Make one-off payment — then enter the recipient’s name and IBAN.

For SEPA Instant payments through AIB, the route is Pay & Transfer > Pay another account > Choose your sending account. The payment processes in seconds, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (AIB SEPA Instant Payments).

PTSB payment options

SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) is the standardised euro payment method for bank-to-bank transfers within the SEPA zone, processed on a same-day or next-day basis (PTSB Types of Payments and Transfers). To send a SEPA payment through PTSB, log into the app or Open24 Online Banking and follow the transfer steps: select your payee, choose the account to pay from, then enter the amount, date, and reference before confirming (Wise).

For PTSB SEPA payments under €10,000 within the EEA, the app or Open24 Online Banking handles it; for amounts over €10,000, use the Online Payment Form and visit a branch with photo ID within 7 calendar days (PTSB). SEPA Credit Transfers are actioned if instructions are received by 4pm on a business day, arriving the next day (PTSB). PTSB does not charge for SEPA network payments, though the receiving bank may apply fees.

The catch

Standard SEPA transfers through PTSB only arrive next business day if submitted after 4pm — plan accordingly if timing matters.

Bottom line: The implication: if you need funds to arrive by a specific day, submit before the 4pm cut-off or switch to SEPA Instant.

How to transfer money from one bank to another?

Online banking steps

The core requirement for any SEPA payment is the recipient’s IBAN, the name of the payee, and confirmation that the payee’s bank supports either SEPA Credit Transfer or SEPA Instant (AIB SEPA Payments Explained). No bank code or SWIFT BIC is needed for euro transfers within the SEPA zone — the IBAN does all the routing work.

SEPA covers euro payments within the EEA exactly as it does within Ireland, meaning the same rules and timelines apply whether you’re sending to a neighbouring county or across the EU (PTSB).

4 common ways

Four main methods exist for moving money from one bank to another in Ireland:

  1. SEPA Credit Transfer (SCT) — standard euro payment, same-day or next-day processing
  2. SEPA Instant Credit Transfer (SCT Inst) — funds arrive within 10 seconds, 24/7/365
  3. Urgent Credit Transfer — faster processing than SCT, typically same day
  4. Own-account transfers — instant movement between your own accounts at the same bank
What to watch

PTSB outgoing SEPA Instant Credit Transfers launched on 09 October 2025 via app, Open24, Business24, and branches — earlier than many users expected.

The pattern: SEPA Instant is now mandatory for all euro-area banks, making instant transfers the default option for urgent payments regardless of which Irish bank you use.

How to Transfer Money Safely Between Bank Accounts?

Verify account details

Every SEPA transfer requires the payee’s IBAN — that’s your primary accuracy check. A single wrong digit sends funds to the wrong account, and reversals on SEPA payments are not automatic. Most banking apps display the account holder name alongside the IBAN during the confirmation step: if those don’t match what you expect, stop and verify before submitting.

PTSB introduced Verification of Payee (VoP) alongside its outgoing SEPA Instant rollout on 09 October 2025, which cross-checks the recipient name against the IBAN before the transfer proceeds (PTSB Outgoing SEPA Instant Notice). This adds a layer of protection specifically against misdirected payments.

Use official apps

The safest route is your bank’s official mobile app or website — not a third-party aggregator unless you explicitly trust it. Log in directly, navigate to payments, and avoid saving login credentials on shared devices. Enable push notifications so any transfer triggers an immediate alert on your phone.

Incoming SEPA Instant transfers at PTSB appear on your statement prefixed with “ICT” followed by the payer’s name and date — for example, “ICT John 25/01” (PTSB SEPA Instant Q&A). If you see a transfer you don’t recognise, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card or the official website.

The upshot

SEPA transfers are protected by your bank’s own fraud detection, but that protection only works if you report issues quickly — enable notifications and check your statements regularly.

What this means: even with VoP and fraud detection in place, the speed of SEPA Instant means you have seconds to spot and report a problem — notifications are not optional.

What is the easiest way to transfer money from one bank to another bank?

Instant transfers

Transferring between your own accounts — even across different banks — happens instantly through the SEPA rails. Bank of Ireland confirms that moving money between your own accounts is immediate (Central Bank of Ireland Explainer). There’s no waiting, no cut-off time, and typically no fee.

The ease advantage is clearest with SEPA Instant: you open the app, confirm the recipient, and the funds land within 10 seconds. The recipient bank must support SCT Inst, but as of October 2025 that is mandatory for all euro-area institutions under the Instant Payments Regulation (Central Bank of Ireland).

Mobile app methods

AIB’s app is the most direct route for its customers: Pay & Transfer > To another Irish account > Make one-off payment. AIB SEPA Instant follows the same path but selects the instant option on the confirmation screen (AIB). Once you’ve saved a payee, repeat transfers take under a minute.

For PTSB users, the app offers SEPA Instant as a selectable payment method alongside standard SCT — you can switch to standard on the confirm screen if the recipient doesn’t support instant (PTSB SEPA Instant Q&A). Only PTSB Current and Demand Deposit accounts can send SEPA Instant Credit Transfers; non-payment accounts like mortgages or fixed deposits receive incoming SEPA Instant under standard SCT timelines.

The catch: if you’re sending from a savings or investment account rather than a current account, SEPA Instant may not be available and the transfer reverts to standard SCT timing.

How long does a bank transfer take between different banks?

SEPA standard times

Standard SEPA Credit Transfer processes same day or next business day depending on submission time and the sending bank’s cut-off. PTSB’s cut-off is 4pm on business days — transfers submitted after that arrive the day after next (PTSB). The receiving bank then credits the account according to its own processing schedule.

What this means: if you submit a standard SEPA transfer on Friday afternoon after 4pm, expect the funds on Tuesday (Monday is the next business day, unless it’s a holiday). Plan for this lag when the timing of the payment matters — rent due on Monday morning needs to be sent by Thursday or Friday at the latest.

Instant options

SEPA Instant Credit Transfer is the fast alternative: funds reach payment accounts within 10 seconds, every day of the year, including weekends and public holidays (PTSB). This applies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — there is no cut-off time.

The trade-off is amount: SEPA Instant transfers at PTSB exceeding €35,000 trigger a review and are sent within 24 hours rather than instantly (PTSB SEPA Instant Q&A). For large transfers, standard SCT remains the practical route.

Why this matters

From 9 October 2025, all Irish banks are required to support sending SEPA instant credit transfers — meaning instant options will expand well beyond the current PTSB and AIB rollout.

The implication: for amounts under €35,000, SEPA Instant should be your default — it removes the cut-off time problem entirely and costs nothing extra at most banks.

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Additional sources

aib.ie, ptsb.ie, ptsb.ie

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Frequently asked questions

Can you transfer money between banks for free?

PTSB charges no fees for SEPA network payments, but the receiving bank may apply its own receiving fee. Other banks’ fee structures vary — check your bank’s current schedule or contact customer support directly. Own-account transfers between your own accounts at the same institution are typically free.

What are SEPA transfer limits?

Limits vary by bank and account type. PTSB’s online SEPA limit is €10,000 per transaction; SEPA Instant at PTSB triggers a review for amounts over €35,000. For amounts over €10,000 within the EEA, PTSB requires use of the Online Payment Form followed by a branch visit with photo ID.

How to transfer internationally from AIB?

For non-euro or non-EEA transfers, AIB uses SWIFT routing. You’ll need the recipient’s full name, account number or IBAN, and the beneficiary bank’s SWIFT/BIC code. Log into AIB Internet Banking and select the international payment option — fees and processing times differ from SEPA transfers.

What if AIB transfer between accounts not working?

Check that the payee’s IBAN is correct, that their bank supports SEPA, and that you have sufficient funds in the selected account. If the transfer fails, AIB’s help centre or phone support (0818 247 100) can trace the payment. Allow up to 2 business days for standard SCT; for SEPA Instant, funds should arrive in under 10 seconds.

Is Western Union faster for bank transfers?

Western Union prioritises speed over cost for certain corridors, but for euro transfers between Irish bank accounts, SEPA is faster and typically cheaper. Western Union makes sense for non-euro transfers or when sending to countries outside the SEPA zone.

How to do AIB to Bank of Ireland transfer?

Log into AIB Internet Banking, go to Pay & Transfer, select “To another Irish account,” enter the Bank of Ireland account holder’s name and IBAN, specify the amount, and confirm. Processing time depends on whether you choose SEPA Instant (seconds) or standard SCT (same/next business day).

What documents needed for large transfers over 10,000?

For SEPA transfers over €10,000 at PTSB, you must use the Online Payment Form and then visit a branch with valid photo ID (passport or driver’s licence) within 7 calendar days of initiating the payment. Other banks may have similar requirements — contact your bank’s customer service to confirm before initiating a large transfer.

SEPA Instant Credit Transfer is a euro payment method used for transferring funds to payment accounts within 10 seconds, every day of the year.

PTSB (Bank Official)

All banks & relevant payment service providers must facilitate the sending of SEPA instant credit transfers in euro at the request of their customers.

Central Bank of Ireland (Regulator)

For Irish bank customers, the choice is straightforward: use SEPA Instant for anything urgent or time-sensitive, and standard SCT for larger amounts or when instant processing isn’t critical. From October 2025, instant payment support became mandatory across all Irish banks, removing the previous patchwork of availability. The real variable now is fee structure — PTSB waives its own sending fees for SEPA, but receiving banks may not. Always check both sides of the transfer before assuming the cost is zero.