Merchant Machine

Ulster Bank VS AIB (Allied Irish Bank): Business Banking Review & Fee Comparison


By: Ian Wright | Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Is Ulster Bank or AIB (Allied Irish Bank) better for your small business?



Compare UK Business Bank Accounts

Powered By BusinessBankAccounts.co.uk



Below we look at both Ulster Bank and AIB (Allied Irish Bank) reviews on Trustpilot along with their App reviews from Apple and Google.

We then look at typical fees, business savings rates, foreign currency options and a whole bunch of other account features to help you make up your mind.

Ulster Bank Homepage
Ulster Bank Homepage


AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Homepage
AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Homepage
 

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Trustpilot Reviews

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5)1.52.8
Percent 5-Star Reviews8%20%
Percent 1- Star Reviews86%70%
Total Number of Reviews11410
Sources:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.ulsterbank.co.uk
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/aibgb.co.uk

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) App Reviews

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
iPhone Review Score (out of 5)4.81.7
Number of iPhone Reviews15,700227
Android Review Score (out of 5)4.11.9
Number of Android Reviews15,00021,400
Sources:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ulster-bank-ni-mobile-banking/id469523324
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/aib-mobile/id468042881

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Account Fees & Charges

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Free Business Bank AccountYesNo
Free Business Account Term Length24 MonthsNA
Cheapest Monthly Account Fee£8£10
Most Expensive Monthly Account Fee£12£10
Electronic Payment Cost (in/out)43p35p
Cash Payments Cost (in/out)70p per £10065p per £100
Cheques (in/out)40p70p
CHAPS Payments Cost£18.75£25
SEPA Payments Cost€0.51£20

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Business Savings Rates

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Types of Business Savings AccountsInstant access accounts, Fixed term accounts, Currency savings accountsDemand deposit account, Business fixed term deposit account, Currency deposit account
Lowest Savings Rate (AER)1.46%0.25%
Maximum Savings Rate (AER)1.92%3.02%
Minimum Savings AmountNo£1
Interest Paid On Foreign CurrenciesYesYes
 

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Account Opening Times

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Can You Apply Online?YesYes
How Long Does Opening An
Account Typically Take?
24 working hours15 minutes
Do They Check Your Credit?YesYes
Current Account Switch ServiceYesYes

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Features & Account Types

Ulster Bank Account Types
Ulster Bank Features & Account Types


AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Account Types
AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Features & Account Types


Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Business Current AccountYesYes
Business Savings AccountYesYes
Business Credit CardYesYes
Business OverdraftYesYes
Accounts For StartupsYesYes
Accounts For CharitiesYesYes
Accounts For Sole TradersYesYes
Joint Business Accounts AvailableYesYes
Card TypeMastercardVisa
Online BankingYesYes
Mobile BankingYesYes
In Person/Branch BankingYesYes
Branch LocationsNorthern Ireland OnlyBelfast, London and Dublin

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Customer Support Options

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Phone Support AvailableYesYes
Email Support AvailableYesYes
App Based Support YesYes
Web Based SupportYesYes
In person Customer SupportYesYes

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Foreign Currency Accounts

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
US Dollar (USD) Bank AccountsYesYes
Euro (EUR) Bank AccountsYesYes
Other Currencies Available:
  • Swiss franc
  • Japanese yen
  • Australian dollar
  • Canadian dollar
  • New Zealand dollar
  • Swedish krona
  • Australian Dollar (AUD)
  • Canadian Dollar (CAD)
  • Swiss Franc (CHF)
  • Japanese Yen (JPY)
  • Chinese Yuan (CNY)
  • Singapore Dollar (SGD)

Other Business Services From Ulster Bank and AIB (Allied Irish Bank)

Ulster Bank Account Types
Other Ulster Bank Services


AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Account Types
Other AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Services


Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Business LoansYesYes
Commercial MortgagesNoYes
Invoice FinancingYesYes
International PaymentsYesYes
Merchant Payment ServicesYesYes
Card MachinesYesYes
Free Accounting SoftwareYesNo

Ulster Bank vs AIB (Allied Irish Bank) Banking Basics

Ulster BankAIB (Allied Irish Bank)
Bank TypeHigh StreetHigh Street
FSCS ProtectionYes, up to £85,000Yes, up to £85,000
FCA NumberNA204793
WebsiteUlster Bank WebsiteAIB (Allied Irish Bank) Website

Common Comparison Questions

Does Ulster Bank or AIB (Allied Irish Bank) have better customer reviews?

Ulster Bank scores 1.5 out of 5 based 114 Trustpilot reviews. Of these reviews 8% are 5-star and 86% are 1-star.

Whereas, AIB (Allied Irish Bank) scores 2.8 out of 5 based 10 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 20% are 5-star and 70% are 1-star.

Does Ulster Bank or AIB (Allied Irish Bank) have a better App?

Ulster Bank’s iPhone App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 15,700 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.1 out of 5 based on 15,000 reviews.

In comparison, AIB (Allied Irish Bank)’s iPhone App is rated 1.7 out of 5 based on 227 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 1.9 out of 5 based on 21,400 reviews.

Does Ulster Bank or AIB (Allied Irish Bank) have better business savings rates?

Ulster Bank offers the following types of business savings accounts: Instant access accounts, Fixed term accounts, Currency savings accounts with interest rates ranging from 1.46% to 1.92%. (AER)

In contrast, AIB (Allied Irish Bank) offers Demand deposit account, Business fixed term deposit account, Currency deposit account accounts with interest rates ranging from 0.25% to 3.02% (AER).

See Other Comparisons:
Ulster Bank vs Unity Trust
Ulster Bank vs United Trust Bank
Ulster Bank vs HSBC Kinetic
Ulster Bank vs CardOneMoney
Ulster Bank vs Fair Everywhere


For other business bank accounts see our guide here.

 



Please note: Merchant Machine is an information and comparison website only.
We do not provide merchant services nor can we recommend which solution is right for you and your business.
Blog · About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact Us
Copyright © 2025 Brilliant British Ltd trading as Merchant Machine

Registered Office Address:
3rd Floor Great Titchfield House, 14-18 Great Titchfield Street, London, United Kingdom, W1W 8BD
Company number 10490224