Mobile app usage reaches record highs as customers increasingly embrace digital payments.
Bank of Ireland has recorded continued growth in digital banking activity during the second quarter of 2026, with mobile engagement, contactless payments and instant transfers all showing strong momentum.
The Bank said that mobile banking logins during the quarter increased by 5% year-on-year while ATM transactions declined by 6% compared with the same period last year.
“Customer expectations continue to evolve, with digital engagement growing year on year and card-based payments becoming an increasingly important part of everyday banking”
The Bank says the analysis reveals more customers are managing their finances through digital channels and a steady shift towards digital and card-based banking services.
Digital evolution continues
The busiest day for mobile banking activity was 1 May when logins to the Bank of Ireland app exceeded 1.49 million.
Retail spending activity also remained robust with customers making more than 2.8 million point-of-sale transactions on 29 May, making it the busiest day of the quarter for point-of-sale transactions.
Q2 point of sale transactions were flat year-on-year, while e-commerce contactless transactions grew by 5%. There was a total of 125.5 million contactless payments for Q2, up 13% compared to Q1 2026.
In comparison to Q1, SEPA instant payments in Q2 increased by 17% with over 11 million. Thursday, 28 May recorded the highest SEPA instant transactions with circa 250,000.
“Customer expectations continue to evolve, with digital engagement growing year on year and card-based payments becoming an increasingly important part of everyday banking,” said Keith Kiernan, chief information officer at Bank of Ireland.
“At Bank of Ireland, we are making significant investments in technology to enhance customer experiences and strengthen our capabilities across instant payments, AI, cyber resilience and digital services.”
Bank of Ireland has launched a number of new technology innovations so far this year for customers in Ireland including Zippay, mobile to mobile digital payments; Benefits Finder, an AI-enabled tax credits tool; online ‘Electric Vehicle Marketplace’ for customers switching to EVs; and a new partnership with Google to provide up to 10,000 fully-funded AI training scholarships for business customers.
“While digital innovation remains a key focus, we are committed to investing across all customer channels, including our branch network, contact centres and online services, ensuring customers can bank in the way that suits them best,” Kiernan added.
“The continued adoption of digital banking reflects customers’ demand for fast, convenient and secure ways to manage their finances.”
👉 No tech background needed to bring your business into the AI age! Secure your Google AI Professional Certificate to complete the certification at no cost. Apply now and get started!
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
