Irish Accounting

Accounting Software with Irish Bank Feeds

Most global accounting platforms only support UK and US banks natively. Irish businesses need direct feeds from AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. This guide shows which tools deliver that - and what to watch for.

Why Irish bank feeds are not a given

The Irish banking market is small and distinct. Not every accounting platform prioritises it.

Most global tools are built for UK or US banks

Accounting platforms like FreeAgent, Wave, or FreshBooks are optimised for UK or US bank connectivity. They may support bank imports but not live feeds from AIB, BOI, or PTSB.

Open Banking compliance varies

Ireland adopted PSD2 Open Banking later than the UK, and Irish banks implemented it at different speeds. Some platforms still rely on third-party aggregators (like Plaid or TrueLayer) that may not include all Irish banks.

Feed breaks can disrupt reconciliation

Aggregator-based feeds can break when banks update their authentication flows. Direct, bank-approved feeds are more reliable. Always ask whether a feed is direct or via an aggregator.

GDPR and data residency matter

Bank transaction data is personal financial data under GDPR. If your accounting software stores this data outside the EU, you may have additional compliance obligations. Irish-hosted options (Big Red Cloud, Surf Accounts) have the cleanest data residency position.

Verified from vendor data

Irish bank feed support by software

Bank feed support confirmed from Vendors.ie vendor data, last verified April 2026. Verify current connection status directly with your software provider.

Xero

Direct feeds for AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. The most established Irish bank feed coverage of the cloud accounting platforms. EU data residency. Strong Irish accountant network. Priced in USD - exchange rate exposure applies.

QuickBooks Online

Direct feeds for AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB. Strong mobile app. Note: Intuit is US-based with mixed EU/US data residency - confirm GDPR position for your account type. Priced in USD.

Sage Business Cloud Accounting

Bank feeds for AIB and Bank of Ireland confirmed. EU data residency. Also supports PAYE Modernisation and RCT - unique among accounting platforms. Best for businesses needing accounting and payroll compliance in one product.

Big Red Cloud

Irish bank feeds for AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB. Dublin-built, hosted in Ireland - the strongest GDPR position of any platform on this list. Priced in euro. Suited to small businesses and sole traders.

Surf Accounts

Direct feeds for AIB and Bank of Ireland confirmed. Irish-built, EU-hosted, euro-priced. Includes basic CRM alongside accounting. PTSB support - verify current status directly. Best for sole traders and small service businesses.

Global tools without Irish feeds

FreeAgent, Wave, FreshBooks, and Zoho Books do not list Irish bank feeds in their supported connections. These platforms may allow manual CSV imports but do not offer automated feeds from AIB, BOI, or PTSB as standard.

What to verify before connecting your Irish bank account

Not all bank feeds are equal. These are the questions to ask before committing to a platform.

  1. 1

    Direct connection or aggregator?

    Ask whether the bank feed is a direct Open Banking connection (more stable) or routes through a third-party aggregator like Plaid or TrueLayer. Aggregator feeds can break when banks update their authentication. Xero and Sage use direct connections for major Irish banks.

  2. 2

    Which specific accounts are supported?

    Current accounts, deposit accounts, credit cards, and business accounts may have different feed availability. Confirm your specific account type is supported - not just the bank name.

  3. 3

    What happens to historic transactions?

    Most platforms import 90 days of historic transactions when you first connect a feed. If you need more history, check whether the platform accepts CSV imports to backfill older transactions.

  4. 4

    How often does the feed refresh?

    Some feeds update multiple times per day; others update overnight. For businesses with high transaction volumes or tight cash flow management, intraday feeds are preferable.

  5. 5

    GDPR data residency for bank transaction data

    Bank transaction data is personal and financial data under GDPR. If your accounting software processes this data outside the EU, you need a Data Processing Agreement and appropriate transfer mechanism. Irish-hosted platforms (Big Red Cloud, Surf Accounts) avoid this complexity.

Irish bank feeds and accounting software

Frequently asked questions

Which accounting software has bank feeds for AIB?
Xero, QuickBooks Online, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Big Red Cloud, and Surf Accounts all support direct bank feeds from AIB. These feeds automatically import transactions into your accounting software, removing the need for manual statement imports.
Does Xero work with Bank of Ireland?
Yes. Xero has direct bank feeds for Bank of Ireland (BOI), along with AIB and Permanent TSB. Xero's Irish bank feed coverage is among the most reliable of the cloud accounting platforms and is regularly cited by Irish accountants as a key reason for recommending it.
Does QuickBooks Online support Irish bank feeds?
Yes. QuickBooks Online supports direct bank feeds from AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB. Note that QuickBooks is US-based (Intuit), and GDPR data residency should be confirmed if handling sensitive financial data.
What is the difference between a bank feed and a bank import?
A bank feed is a direct, automated connection between your bank account and your accounting software - transactions appear automatically, usually within 24 hours. A bank import requires you to manually download a statement file (CSV or OFX) from your bank and upload it to your accounting software. Feeds save time and reduce the risk of missing transactions.
Does Permanent TSB (PTSB) have accounting software integrations?
Xero, QuickBooks Online, and Big Red Cloud all list PTSB among their supported Irish banks for direct feeds. Surf Accounts supports AIB and BOI but lists PTSB support as limited - verify directly with Surf Accounts for your specific account type.
Is Big Red Cloud a good option for Irish bank feeds?
Big Red Cloud is Dublin-built and supports direct Irish bank feeds for AIB, Bank of Ireland, and other Irish banks. It has the strongest Irish data residency credentials - hosted in Ireland. It is best suited to small businesses and sole traders who prioritise simplicity and local support over a large integration ecosystem.
What should I check when evaluating bank feed support for Irish banks?
Confirm which specific Irish banks are supported (AIB, BOI, PTSB, Ulster Bank, KBC successors), whether feeds are direct (Open Banking) or via a third-party aggregator (which can break), whether historic transactions import on setup, and how frequently feeds refresh. Also confirm GDPR data residency if you are processing client financial data.

Compare Irish accounting software

All platforms reviewed with verified Irish bank feed status, VAT handling, and data residency.

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