AIB (Allied Irish Banks) review
Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
AIB (Allied Irish Banks) suits regular everyday spenders who want a plain Visa debit card from a familiar Irish bank rather than a multi-currency app. The catch is cost: a monthly fee of €6 sits well above the site median of €0, and it ranks 388 of 419 brands on monthly fee.
Key facts
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple pricing, with a single monthly fee of €6 for a debit card rather than a mix of percentage and per-item charges.
- Runs on visa, the most common network among the cards compared here at 58.6%.
- A debit card, the type behind 74.3% of the cards on the site, for people who want to spend only the money in their account.
Cons
- The monthly fee of €6 sits well above the site median of €0 and ranks 388 of 419.
- The listed alternatives charge a monthly fee of £0 and $0, so AIB carries the higher cost of the group.
Who it suits
- Customers who already bank with AIB and want a familiar Visa card for everyday payments.
- People who spend in a single currency and want a debit card tied to their main bank account.
- Readers who weigh a known bank and a mainstream network more heavily than the smallest monthly charge.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not Wise if the monthly charge matters most, since its monthly fee is £0 next to AIB's €6.
- Not the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card if you want a debit card rather than a secured credit card.
- Not the Chime Card if you would rather hold a secured Visa credit card with a monthly fee of $0.
How AIB (Allied Irish Banks) compares
Frequently asked questions
How much does AIB's debit card cost each month?+
AIB charges a monthly fee of €6 for the card. That is a recurring charge on the account rather than a per-purchase cost, and it sits well above the site median of €0. Its cost score is 0.6 and its overall score is 0.6.
Is AIB's card a debit card or a credit card?+
It is a debit card, so spending draws on the money in the account rather than borrowing. Debit cards are the norm in this comparison, making up 74.3% of the cards on the site, so a debit card is a straightforward fit for everyday banking.
Which card network does AIB use?+
The card runs on visa. Among the cards compared here, visa is the most common network at 58.6%, so acceptance is broad and AIB's card is a mainstream choice rather than a niche one.
How does AIB's monthly fee compare with the alternatives?+
AIB charges €6 a month, while Wise charges £0, the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0 and the Chime Card charges $0. On monthly cost alone, AIB is the costly option of the group.
Where does AIB sit among the brands ranked on monthly fee?+
AIB ranks 388 of 419 brands on monthly fee, which places it well down the field. Cheaper brands sit either side of it, and a card that has to be held for everyday spending carries that cost every month.
Who is AIB's debit card for?+
It suits people already banking with AIB who want a familiar visa debit card and spend in a single currency. It suits them less if the monthly fee of €6 is the main thing to check, because cheaper accounts exist with a monthly fee of £0.
Is a monthly fee normal on cards like this?+
Among the cards on the site, the median monthly fee is €0 and the upper quartile is €0, while the highest reaches €99. Most compared cards charge nothing a month, so AIB's €6 stands out as an added cost rather than the norm.
Could a secured credit card suit me better?+
A secured card is a different product from a debit card, with money placed behind the limit. The Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges a monthly fee of $0 and the Chime Card charges $0, so a secured route can also cost less each month than AIB's €6.
Sources
- aib.ie/Fees-and-Charges checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type, Monthly fee, Card network
“A Debit Card, which is accepted anywhere you see the Visa logo”
Compiled from 1 source page, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.
AIB (Allied Irish Banks)
Everyday Visa debit spending for customers who already bank with AIB.