How to close your Ulster Bank account in Ireland

From April 2022, customers of Ulster Bank in Ireland will begin to receive letters notifying them of a date when the bank will close their accounts.¹ This is happening because Ulster Bank has decided to withdraw from the Irish market. To get ahead of the curve, you have the option to move your money and close your account in advance.

In this article we’ll take a look at the steps you need to take to close your Ulster Bank account. We’ll also see how Wise could be an alternative for you moving forward.

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How to close an Ulster Bank account in Ireland

There’s a few different ways you can close your Ulster Bank current and savings accounts, including online, over the phone and in person.

But before you go ahead and close your accounts, you’ll need to take care of anything that’s connected to either your Ulster Bank current account or Ulster Bank savings account. This could include some of the following:

• Opening a new account with another provider
• Withdrawing any funds
• Changing direct debits e.g. for subscription services
• Stopping automatic transfers
• Repaying any overdrawn balances
• Downloading any financial records you want to keep

Close an Ulster Bank account online

You can close your Ulster Bank account online using their Anytime Banking service². Keep in mind that you should have⁵:

• An account with unlimited access. If you have a joint account that’s set up with limited access you won’t be able to close it online, or without the consent of all named account holders
• Have your new BIC and IBAN to hand
• Be registered for Anytime Banking or the mobile app
• Ensure your personal details are up to date

To access Anytime Banking you can either go to the Anytime Internet Banking website or login to the Mobile Banking app. Follow the step by step to close your account online⁵:

1. Select the account you wish to close.
2. Select 'Need to close your Current / Savings Account?' (Select 'Close Account' if using the mobile app.)
3. Complete the online form, input your account details and the details of the account you wish to transfer the balance to.
4. Submit the form. You will receive email confirmation that it’s been submitted to us.

Close an Ulster Bank account over the phone

To close your Ulster Bank account over the phone you can gather your account information and call on the number that suits you²:

• In Ireland: 0818 210 260
• From abroad: 00 353 1 8047475

Close an Ulster Bank account in a branch

If you’d prefer to close your account in person you can do so at your local Ulster Bank branch.²

It’s a good idea to take your current account details, the details for your new bank and your ID with you in case the teller needs the information.

Close an Ulster Bank account by post

To close your Ulster Bank account via post you need to print, fill and sign their Account Closure Request Form before sending it in the mail. You can also drop it into your local branch.²

• In Ireland - Ulster Bank Free Post, Customer Service Centre, PO Box 5706, Dublin 2
• From abroad - Ulster Bank Ireland DAC, Block B, Central Park, Leopardstown, Dublin 18

Ulster Bank Switching service

If you have an Ulster Bank current account you can take advantage of the Switching service, which is an option to swap to a new financial provider.

The Switching process involves opening a new bank account with a different provider and switching your banking activities over, before having the old account closed.

To start this process you'll need to contact your new account provider to complete a Switcher pack.³

FAQ: Your questions about closing an Ulster Bank account

Can I close my Ulster bank account online?

Yes. As long as your account doesn’t have limited access you should have no problems closing your Ulster Bank account online using their Anytime Banking services.²

When do I need to close my Ulster Bank account?

From April 2022, Ulster Bank will begin writing to customers giving up to 6 months' notice about the closure of the accounts.

After that date, you'll no longer be able to use your account, and 30 days later, it will be closed by Ulster Bank.

However, you don’t need to wait until you receive your account closure letter, and you can start the process of choosing and moving to a new provider.¹

How to close an Ulster Bank credit card account?

You can contact the Ulster Bank credit card centre by calling on 0818 210 261 (or 0044 1702 275 524 if calling from abroad).⁶

Ulster Bank Ireland contact

If you have any questions for Ulster Bank, here’s how you can get in touch⁴⁵:

• Anytime Telephone Banking - General Enquiries: 0818 210 260 within Ireland / 00353 1804 7475 from abroad
• Dedicated helpline for closing an account: 1800 656 001
• Visit a local branch
• Chat online via Anytime Banking Helpdesk

Read more: Ulster Bank international transfer: Fees, rates and transfer time

Try Wise: a smart alternative to traditional banks

Moving forward you may want to consider an alternative to the traditional banks, such as Wise. Wise is a secure online provider that offers transparent financial services with no hidden fees.

Wise offers a multi-currency account that allows you to convert and hold more than 40 currencies. You’ll get access to account details for 9+ of those currencies, including Euros and British Pounds, and you'll be able to receive payments like a local.

There’s no monthly account fees to worry about and any foreign currency exchanges are done at the mid-market exchange rate, like you see on Google. You can also order a Wise debit card to make daily spending easy.

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Sources used:

1. Ulster Bank - Customer Support Hub Current and Savings Accounts
2. Ulster Bank - Closing your Current and Savings Accounts
3. Ulster Bank - Getting ready to switch
4. Ulster Bank - Help and Support: Contact Numbers
5. Ulster Bank - Help and Support Closing account
6. Ulster Bank - Close credit card account

Sources last checked on date: 19 April 2022