Q4 2025 saw all time highs in ‘tap and go’ and e commerce payments among Bank of Ireland customers, while Bank reveals new AI systems prevent €9.7m in fraud losses.
Bank of Ireland reported record contactless payment activity in the final quarter of 2025, driven by rising consumer use of digital wallets and continued investment in faster, more secure payment infrastructure.
The Bank said e‑commerce contactless card transactions, including payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay, rose 10% year-on-year in the quarter. In‑store contactless “tap and go” payments increased by 4% over the same period.
Customers set two new single‑day records in the run‑up to Christmas. More than 2m “tap and go” transactions were made on 23 December as shoppers completed last‑minute purchases. On 28 November, the bank processed more than 1.1m e‑commerce contactless card transactions, the highest daily total recorded by the lender.
Digital upgrades
The sharp growth follows a series of payment technology upgrades rolled out across 2025. Bank of Ireland introduced SEPA Instant payments, enabling both personal and business customers to send euro transfers to any European bank within ten seconds at any time of day.
The Bank also implemented Verification of Payee and Fraud Payment Interrupt tools to strengthen customer protection and reduce misdirected payments.
Investment in digital systems has accelerated lending turnaround times for small business and agricultural customers, who can now apply and draw down funds in as little as 24 hours.
The Bank also reported significant gains in fraud detection, with AI and machine‑learning technology analysing about 1bn card transactions last year and preventing €9.7 million in potential losses.
Further upgrades are planned for 2026, including Zippay, a mobile‑to‑mobile payment service, and the rollout of a new mobile banking app.
Ciarán Coyle, Bank of Ireland’s chief operating officer, said the bank had made strong progress in modernising its digital capabilities throughout the year.
“We made considerable progress in delivering technology enhancements throughout 2025, providing greater stability and resilience and a smoother, more secure customer experience,” he said. “We will continue this focus and momentum, with the rollout of our new mobile app and other improvements including the launch of Zippay mobile‑to‑mobile payments.”
He added that the bank would outline further investment plans later in the year. “Later this year we will launch our new strategy, where we will outline further investments in our digital platforms, providing colleagues with the best technology to serve our customers brilliantly,” he said.
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