Switching accounts---including debts---from BOI Ireland to BOI UK

GerardKeating wrote: »

BoI UK is more a business that for personal customers. and the UK branch network is not big..

Toots* wrote: »

BOI UK is more for businesses, they may open an account for you if you've had an introduction from a ROI branch. One of my cousins moved to London a few years ago, and even though myself, my father and several other family members who are BOI staff contacted some of the UK branches on his behalf, he was unable to open an account and if I remember correctly managed to get one in Halifax.

You can't 'switch' your account to the UK in the same way you would switch between banks in the republic. You'd have to open an account with a UK bank (which can be awkward from what I've heard). Then you would have to apply for loans/credit facilities with that bank, use the proceeds to clear your debts here, and then close off your accounts here. I would imagine the UK banks are similar to the banks here, in that you'll have to build up a history with them before they'd grant you any loans etc. I know in my cousin's case he was waiting over a year just to be able to get a credit card, and he was working for a huge firm earning over £40,000. So it will probably be quite a time consuming process.

When you say 'UK' does it have to be mainland UK or would Northern Ireland do? Bank of Ireland and AIB have branches in the north and they'll deal with personal customers. I don't think it's possible to do a straight switch to the north either unfortunately.

Toots* wrote: »

I would imagine it should be possible using online banking. I know the UK are streets ahead of us as regards online banking. The disadvantage to that is that you'll be paying a lot in bank charges for the transfers and currency conversion.