Ireland’s best mortgage lenders
We compare all types of mortgages and interest rates from Ireland’s top lenders. Find the best bank for your borrowing needs.
AIB
AIB has over 170 branches across Ireland and a range of mortgages to suit every type of buyer. It’s working towards carbon neutrality by 2030 and offers low interest rate green mortgages for homes with a high energy rating. If you get an approval in principle with AIB, it will last for 6 months.
Avant Money
Avant Money uses a panel of selected mortgage brokers that are all regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Whichever broker you choose, you’ll be guided through your mortgage journey from start to finish. You’ll get a decision on your mortgage application within ten working days.
Bank of Ireland
With a history dating back to 1783, Bank of Ireland offers fixed rate mortgages lasting between one and ten years, plus a discounted rate green mortgage for high energy rated homes. Existing customers can benefit from cashback mortgages and flexible options like payment breaks and splitting your mortgage rate.
EBS
EBS aims to help as many people as possible own their own home. As well as offering mainstream mortgages, it also offers self build mortgages if you’re building your own home. EBS has Mortgage Masters located in communities across Ireland that can offer expert help to first time buyers, movers and switchers. You can book a call or meeting at your local office to get started.
Finance Ireland
Finance Ireland is privately owned and uses a nationwide panel of mortgage brokers who assess each mortgage application on its own merit. There’s no credit scoring and they can offer greater flexibility than other lenders if you’re self employed, have previous credit issues, or are looking to refinance or buy an investment property.
Haven
With Haven, you start by choosing a local intermediary who will manage the end to end mortgage process for you. Haven offers mortgages for first time buyers, next time buyers, self build and switchers. Whatever your mortgage needs, your intermediary can match you with a lender to suit your circumstances.
ICS Mortgages
ICS Mortgages offers a range of mortgages for first time buyers, switchers, movers and buy to let investors. Most of its products offer the flexibility to overpay 20% of your mortgage a year and take payment holidays throughout your term. You can apply for a mortgage directly or through a mortgage broker.
Permanent TSB
Permanent TSB has a network of branches across Ireland. It offers mortgages for first time buyers and movers alike and self build mortgages if you’re building your own home. There are flexible repayment options like payment holidays, overpayments and choosing your mortgage payment date.
How many mortgage lenders are there in Ireland?
There are eight main mortgage lenders in Ireland:
- AIB
- Avant Money
- Bank of Ireland
- EBS
- Finance Ireland
- Haven
- ICS Mortgages
- Permanent TSB
How to choose the best mortgage lender
You can use our mortgage comparisons to narrow down your search for the right mortgage lender. To find the best deals for your circumstances, choose one of the following:
There are other circumstances that may reduce your choice of lenders. Our guides can help you find out more about getting a mortgage, if you’re:
Check the interest rate
Load the comparison and start with the lender offering the lowest rate but don’t forget to factor in any extra fees.
Compare the total cost over your mortgage term, as well as the monthly repayments.
Check your eligibility
Unfortunately, finding the best rate doesn’t mean you’ll get it. Check if you meet the lender’s eligibility criteria e.g. the loan to value and minimum loan term and value before you apply.
If you don’t meet their criteria, move on to the next lender and continue until you’ve found your ideal match.
Check the product terms
Some lenders offer more flexibility than others and their incentives vary too, so you’ll need to prioritise what’s most important to you. Some of the different benefits lenders offer include:
- Payment holidays
- Overpayment options
- Cashback
- Split mortgage rates
Flexibility is often linked to the rate type, e.g. whether the rate is fixed or variable. If you’re not sure which is right for you, our pages on variable rate mortgages and fixed rate mortgages can help.
Should you use a mortgage broker?
Some lenders require you to use one of their mortgage brokers to take out a mortgage with them.
There may also be circumstances where you choose to use a mortgage broker, perhaps because you’re struggling to find a lender that will lend to you or a first time buyer requiring advice.
A mortgage broker is helpful if your credit history is poor or have a different employment status e.g. if you’re self employed.
They can search the market for you and offer advice about products and lenders. Find out how a mortgage broker can help you in our guide, Should you use a mortgage broker?
Always check if they charge a fee and what it is before you use their service.
Compare mortgage rates & deals
Find the best first time buyer and home mover mortgage deals in Ireland using our comparison.