PSC for banks — who accepts it
Under the Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026, banks, credit unions and utility providers in Ireland will be able to accept the Public Services Card as proof of identity for KYC (know-your-customer) and account-opening. The Bill is making its way through the Oireachtas; not every bank has announced adoption; the timing of when you'll first be able to walk into a branch and present a PSC instead of a passport is bank-specific. This page tracks who has confirmed PSC acceptance, who hasn't, and what to do today if your only photo ID is your PSC.
What the Bill actually allows
The Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026 amends the existing legal framework around the PSC to:
- Permit banks, credit unions and utility providers to accept the PSC as a form of identity for KYC purposes.
- Permit the addition of a date-of-birth attribute to a digital version of the card to support age-restricted purchases.
- Codify what is already in practice in some contexts.
"Permit" is not "require". A bank can choose to accept the PSC; it can also choose not to. Whether they do, and from when, is up to each institution.
Bank-by-bank status (we'll update as it moves)
| Bank / institution | PSC accepted for new accounts? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AIB | Check directly — adoption phased | AIB has historically required passport or driving licence. Watch for announcement. |
| Bank of Ireland | Check directly — adoption phased | Similar to AIB; legacy KYC stack to update. |
| Permanent TSB | Check directly | — |
| Revolut Ireland | Check directly | Revolut's KYC is largely automated via document upload; PSC acceptance depends on whether their KYC vendor adds PSC as a document type. |
| N26 | Check directly | Same dependency as Revolut. |
| Credit unions | Member-by-member; check with your local | Credit unions have their own KYC procedures within ILCU guidance; varies by union. |
| An Post Money / current account | Yes (already) | An Post has accepted PSC for some account types pre-Bill, given its operational relationship with the Department. |
| Electric Ireland, SSE Airtricity, Bord Gáis, others (utilities) | Check directly | Utility KYC is lighter than bank KYC; PSC acceptance is administratively easier here. |
This list is updated when each institution makes a public announcement. If you've successfully (or unsuccessfully) used a PSC at any Irish bank or utility, please email tips@myid.ie and we'll update the table.
What to bring today if PSC is your only photo ID
Until your specific bank publicly confirms PSC acceptance, the safe practice is to bring the documents banks currently require:
- One photographic identity document (passport, current driving licence, national ID card if you're an EU citizen).
- One proof of address dated within the last 6 months (utility bill, bank statement, government letter).
If your only photo ID is your PSC, contact the bank in advance (phone or email) and ask whether they currently accept the PSC. Some branches will accept it informally even before official adoption; some will not. Knowing in advance saves a wasted visit.
Why this matters
For many adults in Ireland — particularly those who don't drive or hold a passport — the PSC has been their only photographic state-issued identity for years. The previous practice of requiring a passport or driving licence created a real barrier to basic banking. The 2026 Bill, however contested in other respects, is designed to lower that barrier.
The flip side is that the same Bill is the centrepiece of the PSC controversy — civil-society groups argue that the cumulative expansion of PSC's accepted uses is creating a de facto national identity card without explicit legislation establishing one.
Practical advice
- If you're opening a new bank account in the next few weeks: bring traditional ID (passport or driving licence) plus the PSC. Don't rely on PSC alone unless the bank has confirmed acceptance.
- If your bank confirms PSC acceptance and you want to use it: ask whether they'll keep a copy and how long they'll retain it. The DPC has had concerns about over-retention of PSC images by third parties.
- Adding the date-of-birth attribute to your digital PSC is optional, not automatic. If you don't need it for age-verification at off-licences or similar, you don't have to enable it.
Primary sources
- Social Welfare and Other Matters Bill 2026 — text and progress on oireachtas.ie.
- Department of Social Protection statements on PSC expansion — gov.ie.
- Individual bank policy pages — visit each bank's website.