Comprehensive Review of
The Bank of Ireland 2022
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The Bank of Ireland offers the best mortgage options for Irish home buyers. It is classified as the 2nd largest mortgage lending institution in Ireland, and in 2022 it achieved 1 billion euros in new Irish mortgage lending. But does the Bank of Ireland offer great value in their mortgages? The following comprehensive guide discusses various mortgage alternatives which you can take advantage of.
Since it is one of the pillar banks for Irish borrowers, it is inarguably one of the most trusted lenders in Ireland. Although the mortgage rates are typically higher, they are the best option for borrowers in 2022.
Bank of Ireland
Mortgage Products
Bank of Ireland recently acquired the Ulster Bank mortgage book. Thus, all Ulster Bank customers will have to transfer across to the balance sheet of Bank Ireland.
Some of the outstanding Bank of Ireland mortgage products primarily include:
Fixed-mortgages
Interest only mortgages
Self-build mortgages
Tracker mortgages
Residential mortgages
Green mortgages
It is important to note that they offer their mortgages to home movers, switchers, first-time home buyers, those remortgaging, and buy-to-let. The mortgage products are strictly available to customers in Ireland.
The green mortgage is one of the most outstanding mortgage products in Bank of Ireland. A green mortgage is a product that offers meager interest rates for customers buying an energy-efficient home. To qualify for this mortgage, it is paramount to be purchasing a home with a Building Energy Rating (BER) of a minimum of B3 or even higher.
Thus you will get a 0.30% discount on your mortgage rate through the green mortgage product.
Additionally, they offer a fixed rate of 3.95% When the green discount is incorporated, the rate comes down to approximately 3.65%, currently the lowest rate available.
What is the Mortgage Approval Policy in the
Bank of Ireland?
You must pass the credit policy to get a mortgage from the Bank of Ireland. Although, this lender is famous for having a very flexible credit policy compared to other banks. The lender allows you to borrow even more than 3.5 times the income you are currently earning.
Bank of Ireland takes an average of nine days to process your loan, but sometimes it can extend to weeks. Thus if you need your money immediately, the lender may not offer money urgently to purchase your home.
It is imperative to note that the speed of the mortgage application depends on your current personal circumstances and the quality of the application.
What is Bank of Ireland
Mortgage Rates?
Bank of Ireland rates are competitive, however, unlike the other lenders, they will give all borrowers a 2% cashback of the total mortgage amount when they decide to draw down your loan.
Ideally, you can enjoy lowest mortgage rates Ireland if you have a good credit history and a lower loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.
Bank of Ireland offers 4.75% flat for all LTV bands for a 3-year fixed mortgage.
What is the Cash Back Policy Offered by the
Bank of Ireland?
The cashback policy is when a lender gives you a lump sum when the mortgage draws down. You can use the cash on whatever other expense you want to take care of. You can use the cash back to pay extra costs, such as solicitor fees. The Bank of Ireland offers a cashback of 2-3%. After five years, you will get 2% cashback on drawdown and 1% extra each month.
What are the Pros and cons of Bank of Ireland Mortgage Products?
Pros
Offers the best cashback deal for Irish borrowers
Range of variable and fixed mortgage interest rates you can choose from
Cons
Credit policy can be strict
Is Bank of Ireland a suitable Mortgage Lender?
Bank of Ireland’s powerful street presence makes it an ideal option for borrowers who fear starting unknown banking relationships. The bank seeks to devise a strategy led by robust financial wellness. Its moving towards a customer-centric approach, that aims to appeal to customer’s needs, is outstanding.
As a pillar bank with a very large balance sheet, it offers mortgages to a broad spectrum of Irish customers. The bank has penetrated the intermediary broker market within the last few years; thus, its market share is expected to grow within this channel.
They rely on Irish customers’ inertia and their reputation to charge higher Irish mortgage rates compared to other lenders in Ireland. Unfortunately, they can be one of the hardest mortgage lenders to deal with as they demand tedious paperwork and may take longer to process your loans.
Bank of Ireland is renowned for offering it’s green mortgage product
The product is ideal for homebuyers who wish to buy energy-efficient homes or for homeowners who want to upgrade their current homes to be energy efficient. Also, it is considered one of the safest and largest lenders in Ireland. However, compared to other lenders, their mortgage rates tend to be higher.
What is the Cash Back Policy Offered by the
Bank of Ireland?
The cashback policy is when a lender gives you a lump sum when the mortgage draws down. You can use the cash on whatever other expense you want to take care of. You can use the cash back to pay extra costs, such as solicitor fees. The Bank of Ireland offers a cashback of 2-3%. After five years, you will get 2% cashback on drawdown and 1% extra each month.
What are the Pros and cons of Bank of Ireland Mortgage Products?
Pros
Offers the best cashback deal for Irish borrowers
Range of variable and fixed mortgage interest rates you can choose from
Cons
Credit policy can be strict
Is Bank of Ireland a suitable Mortgage Lender?
Bank of Ireland’s powerful street presence makes it an ideal option for borrowers who fear starting unknown banking relationships. The bank seeks to devise a strategy led by robust financial wellness. Its moving towards a customer-centric approach, that aims to appeal to customer’s needs, is outstanding.
As a pillar bank with a very large balance sheet, it offers mortgages to a broad spectrum of Irish customers. The bank has penetrated the intermediary broker market within the last few years; thus, its market share is expected to grow within this channel.
They rely on Irish customers’ inertia and their reputation to charge higher Irish mortgage rates compared to other lenders in Ireland. Unfortunately, they can be one of the hardest mortgage lenders to deal with as they demand tedious paperwork and may take longer to process your loans.
Bank of Ireland is renowned for offering it’s green mortgage product
The product is ideal for homebuyers who wish to buy energy-efficient homes or for homeowners who want to upgrade their current homes to be energy efficient. Also, it is considered one of the safest and largest lenders in Ireland. However, compared to other lenders, their mortgage rates tend to be higher.
HOW IT WORKS
Get the 20% better rate in four easy steps
HOW IT WORKS
Get the 20% better rate in
four easy steps
HOW IT WORKS
Get the 20% better rate in
four easy steps
STEP # 1
Register to your
mortgage portal
Online 24/7, access your application
anytime, anywhere
STEP # 2
Complete Your Mortgage
Health Check
Our quick affordability models will show
you what can afford and what you can
save with Switcheroo.ie’s best rates
STEP # 3
Friendly Expert Support
Chat or video conference with a friendly
member of the switcheroo.ie team to
confirm what mortgage suits you best
STEP # 4
With you till the end
We handle all the difficult bank
interactions and keep you updated until
your mortgage completes.
STEP # 1
Sign up to our Free Mortgage Portal
Online 24/7, access your application anytime, anywhere
STEP # 2
Complete your Mortgage Health Check
Our quick affordability models will show you what can afford and what you can save with Switcheroo.ie’s best rates
STEP # 3
Friendly expert support
Chat or video conference with a friendly member of the switcheroo.ie team to confirm what mortgage suits you best
STEP # 4
With you till the end
We handle all the difficult bank interactions and keep you updated until your mortgage completes.
WHY CHOOSE US
Save with Switcheroo
We have partnered with all mortgage provider groups in Ireland and with our impartial advice we will get you the best rate available. And the best rate is typically 20% better than the average rate. Don’t forget Switcheroo is free!
WHY CHOOSE US
Save with Switcheroo
We have partnered with all mortgage provider groups in Ireland
and with our impartial advice we will get you the best rate
available. And the best rate is typically 20% better than the
average rate. Don’t forget Switcheroo is free!
WHY CHOOSE US
Save with Switcheroo
We have partnered with all mortgage provider groups in Ireland
and with our impartial advice we will get you the best rate
available. And the best rate is typically 20% better than the
average rate. Don't forget Switcheroo is free!
GREAT FIT FOR EVERYONE
Who is it for?
Switchers
With our great switching rates you
will save thousands of euros, So start
saving now
New homeowners
Getting a mortgage can be a scary
experience for a First Time Buyer, don’t
worry we have your back on this.
Movers
Looking to trade up? Let’s figure out
how to make that next move as cheap
as possible with our Best Rates
“Our mission at Switcheroo is to help people find their dream home with the best mortgage rate available in the market. There is now such a wide variety of mortgage available in Ireland it is critical that customers get expert support to help them save with the right choice. With our platform we give people the tools, knowledge and expert support they need to help them buy and finance their homes at the lowest cost.”
— Alison Fearon, CEO
“Our mission at Switcheroo is to help people find their
dream home with the best mortgage rate available in the
market. There is now such a wide variety of mortgage
available in Ireland it is critical that customers get expert
support to help them save with the right choice. With our
platform we give people the tools, knowledge and expert
support they need to help them buy and finance their
homes at the lowest cost.”
— Alison Fearon, CEO
“Our mission at Switcheroo is to help people find their dream home with the best mortgage rate available in the market. There is now such a wide variety of mortgage available in Ireland it is critical that customers get expert support to help them save with the right choice. With our platform we give people the tools, knowledge and expert support they need to help them buy and finance their homes at the lowest cost.”
— Alison Fearon, CEO
HAVE QUESTIONS
Read our FAQ
You're called Switcheroo.ie but do you help First Time Buyers and Home movers?
Yes, we absolutely do. As long as you are looking to buy a residential property we stand ready to help. We like the name Switcheroo as you are switching home if you are a mover and even if you are a buyer you are switching from tenant to homeowner!!!
What’s the best mortgage I can get?
That’s a question we hear a lot but there is no simple answer to this. There are a number of factors to this which both you and we need to consider when you are thinking of getting a mortgage.
Mortgages come with different terms and banks use different criteria to establish who they lend to, how much and at what rate. Don’t stress too much! You can find out pretty quickly to see if it’s worth your while. From there we will guide you through the process and make sure you get the right mortgage for you and make the process as simple as possible.
If I am a switcher how much can I save?
The Central Bank of Ireland published research that showed that many existing mortgage holders can save over €10,000 euros by switching their mortgage. It will depend on your specific circumstances but just 20 seconds on our calculator will show you what its worth for you to switcheroo.
What documents will you need from me?
Initially, none. The first step is for you to take our Financial Health Check in your secure customer portal. This will help us understand your circumstances and see if you are mortgage fit but we don’t need documentation at that stage. Only later when we move on to preparing your submission to a lender, will we need to make sure that your information is accurate, and we’ll need documentation from you then. Those include proof of your identity, income, utility bills with proof of address, as well as things like visa status where it applies. We’ll always make it clear exactly what we need and why.
Do you perform credit checks?
Our job is to make sure that you have the best possible chance of being accepted. So, we perform our own affordability check before sending anything to a lender. This leaves no footprint on your credit history.
I want to switcheroo, what’s next?
On our website there are calculators that will help you figure out what you can save or what your mortgage would cost. From there you’ll need to register into your customer portal so we can perform a Financial Health Check on you to assess what you can afford.
If all is well, we will then ask for more details on your current circumstances and the specifics of the house you want to mortgage.
Usually, this shouldn’t take more than 60 minutes, and you’ll be one step closer to a mortgage. At this point, you can have a phone call with one of our mortgage experts. They will answer any questions you have and tell you exactly what documents you’re going to need. From there, the expert team will guide you through the application process and keep you updated on progress. You can check progress online and we will keep you updated along the way.
What does Switcheroo.ie do with my data?
It’s all explained in our privacy policy, but basically: we won’t spam you and we won’t pass on your data to other companies so that they can spam you. We hate that.
How does Switcheroo.ie make money?
Yep, we don’t charge any commission. If you get a mortgage using Switcheroo.ie, the lender you use pays us a commission. Some intermediaries charge you an additional commission but not us, we are free forever. These commission never affect our advice. Our reputation and livelihood depend on us always giving our customers the best possible advice. The important bit is we’ll never charge you a penny.
HAVE QUESTIONS
Read our FAQ
You're called Switcheroo.ie but do you help First Time Buyers and Home movers?
Yes, we absolutely do. As long as you are looking to buy a residential property we stand ready to help. We like the name Switcheroo as you are switching home if you are a mover and even if you are a buyer you are switching from tenant to homeowner!!!
What’s the best mortgage I can get?
That’s a question we hear a lot but there is no simple answer to this. There are a number of factors to this which both you and we need to consider when you are thinking of getting a mortgage.
Mortgages come with different terms and banks use different criteria to establish who they lend to, how much and at what rate. Don’t stress too much! You can find out pretty quickly to see if it’s worth your while. From there we will guide you through the process and make sure you get the right mortgage for you and make the process as simple as possible.
If I am a switcher how much can I save?
The Central Bank of Ireland published research that showed that many existing mortgage holders can save over €10,000 euros by switching their mortgage. It will depend on your specific circumstances but just 20 seconds on our calculator will show you what its worth for you to switcheroo.
What documents will you need from me?
Initially, none. The first step is for you to take our Financial Health Check in your secure customer portal. This will help us understand your circumstances and see if you are mortgage fit but we don’t need documentation at that stage. Only later when we move on to preparing your submission to a lender, will we need to make sure that your information is accurate, and we’ll need documentation from you then. Those include proof of your identity, income, utility bills with proof of address, as well as things like visa status where it applies. We’ll always make it clear exactly what we need and why.
Do you perform credit checks?
Our job is to make sure that you have the best possible chance of being accepted. So, we perform our own affordability check before sending anything to a lender. This leaves no footprint on your credit history.
I want to switcheroo, what’s next?
On our website there are calculators that will help you figure out what you can save or what your mortgage would cost. From there you’ll need to register into your customer portal so we can perform a Financial Health Check on you to assess what you can afford.
If all is well, we will then ask for more details on your current circumstances and the specifics of the house you want to mortgage.
Usually, this shouldn’t take more than 60 minutes, and you’ll be one step closer to a mortgage. At this point, you can have a phone call with one of our mortgage experts. They will answer any questions you have and tell you exactly what documents you’re going to need. From there, the expert team will guide you through the application process and keep you updated on progress. You can check progress online and we will keep you updated along the way.
What does Switcheroo.ie do with my data?
It’s all explained in our privacy policy, but basically: we won’t spam you and we won’t pass on your data to other companies so that they can spam you. We hate that.
How does Switcheroo.ie make money?
Yep, we don’t charge any commission. If you get a mortgage using Switcheroo.ie, the lender you use pays us a commission. Some intermediaries charge you an additional commission but not us, we are free forever. These commission never affect our advice. Our reputation and livelihood depend on us always giving our customers the best possible advice. The important bit is we’ll never charge you a penny.
THE SWITCHEROO.IE DIGITAL MORTGAGE PLATFORM
With a great customer experience to
support you through your application?
Don’t take our word for it, read what our customers think of us
THE SWITCHEROO.IE DIGITAL MORTGAGE PLATFORM
With a great customer experience to
support you through your application?
Don’t take our word for it, read what our customers think of us
THE SWITCHEROO.IE DIGITAL MORTGAGE PLATFORM
With a great customer experience to support you through your application?
Don’t take our word for it, read what our customers think of us
Really happy with the advice and service provided by Switcheroo!! I was looking to switch to a better rate which they helped me with and having gone through this I will save thousands off the cost of my mortgage, and there are no charges for Switcheroo’s service. Definitely would recommend them and will come back to them when my fixed term ends.
Jairo
Switcher – CORK
Switcheroo people helped us through the process of the purchase of our new home, they have been extremely professional and very helping throughout all the phases, and even when the timeframe was tight for use they have been able to put us through the final stages. We couldn’t recommend anything better than their service, and if we ever need another mortgage we will know where to reach first.
Connie Robertson
Switcher – Galway
We would highly recommend working with this team! The online portal made everything really straightforward, and, in the end, we knocked 6 years off the term of our mortgage thanks to the great rate they secured for us
Ciaran and Denise
Switchers – Dublin
Switching our mortgage with Dylan as our agent has saved us thousands of euros. Dylan’s attention to detail, prompt replies, regular contact and friendly professionalism enabled us to negotiate our way through the process.
Kathleen
Switcher – Wexford
Very happy with our switching process with Alison from Switcheroo, everything carried out in a quick efficient manner. Even when additional information was required everything was handled very smoothly. Would highly recommend to anyone considering switching
Janice
Switcher – kildare
We switched our mortgage with Alison who helped us through the process step by step very efficiently. They have been very helpful, efficient and are excellent at their work. We saved thousands and I would recommend their services to anyone.
Niall
Switcher – Wicklow
Alison and the Switcheroo team were a great help in assisting us process our mortgage. Instead of having to deal with different customer service officials within the bank we had one point of contact in Switcheroo who kept us updated and kept the process moving.
Susan
First Time Buyer – Dublin
Switcheroo and especially Alison made the whole process as painless as possible. Her diligence and help in explaining and guiding us through the process was invaluable. I would have no hesitation in recommending Switcheroo
Gary and MJ
Switchers – Dublin
Alison and her team made a very daunting task of switching mortgage into something stress free. She supported us entirely throughout the whole process, and her advice was clear, concise and professional. We would have no issue recommending Alison and her team.
Andrea and Ian
Switchers – Meath
As first time home buyers, we found the online process of securing a mortgage very straightforward. It was easy to upload the documents and they responded to any queries we had immediately. We would definitely recommend them and will be using them again when the time comes to switch after the fixed rate expires.
Michael and Kate
First Time Buyers – Meath
We would highly recommend using the Switcheroo Team! The online portal made everything really transparent and straightforward. The team in Switcheroo successfully helped us get credit approval after we were turned down by another bank due to a minor credit issue. Luke and Dylan were so helpful and communication was brilliant.
Cannot thank the team in Switcheroo enough. We are now owners of our dream home.
Karen and Shane
Movers – Dublin
Switcheroo helps us switch our mortgage to a cheaper rate. I have to say that both Luke and Dylan were brilliant, they were the best that I have worked with in any financial institution! They were so prompt and pro active with any query I had and Dylan’s help over the last 2 weeks to hit our target date of today was exceptional. I got several updates per day and even when I called him on his day off, I got a text back within minutes. I will definitely be recommending to my family, friends and work colleagues to look at switching their mortgage with this team
Mark
Switchers – Galway
Really happy with the advice and service provided by Switcheroo!! I was looking to switch to a better rate which they helped me with and having gone through this I will save thousands off the cost of my mortgage, and there are no charges for Switcheroo’s service. Definitely would recommend them and will come back to them when my fixed term ends.
Jairo
Switcher – CORK
Switcheroo people helped us through the process of the purchase of our new home, they have been extremely professional and very helping throughout all the phases, and even when the timeframe was tight for use they have been able to put us through the final stages. We couldn’t recommend anything better than their service, and if we ever need another mortgage we will know where to reach first.
Connie Robertson
Switcher – Galway
We would highly recommend working with this team! The online portal made everything really straightforward, and, in the end, we knocked 6 years off the term of our mortgage thanks to the great rate they secured for us
Ciaran and Denise
Switchers – Dublin
Switching our mortgage with Dylan as our agent has saved us thousands of euros. Dylan’s attention to detail, prompt replies, regular contact and friendly professionalism enabled us to negotiate our way through the process.
Kathleen
Switcher – Wexford
Very happy with our switching process with Alison from Switcheroo, everything carried out in a quick efficient manner. Even when additional information was required everything was handled very smoothly. Would highly recommend to anyone considering switching
Janice
Switcher – kildare
We switched our mortgage with Alison who helped us through the process step by step very efficiently. They have been very helpful, efficient and are excellent at their work. We saved thousands and I would recommend their services to anyone.
Niall
Switcher – Wicklow
Alison and the Switcheroo team were a great help in assisting us process our mortgage. Instead of having to deal with different customer service officials within the bank we had one point of contact in Switcheroo who kept us updated and kept the process moving.
Susan
First Time Buyer – Dublin
Switcheroo and especially Alison made the whole process as painless as possible. Her diligence and help in explaining and guiding us through the process was invaluable. I would have no hesitation in recommending Switcheroo
Gary and MJ
Switchers – Dublin
Alison and her team made a very daunting task of switching mortgage into something stress free. She supported us entirely throughout the whole process, and her advice was clear, concise and professional. We would have no issue recommending Alison and her team.
Andrea and Ian
Switchers – Meath
As first time home buyers, we found the online process of securing a mortgage very straightforward. It was easy to upload the documents and they responded to any queries we had immediately. We would definitely recommend them and will be using them again when the time comes to switch after the fixed rate expires.
Michael and Kate
First Time Buyers – Meath
We would highly recommend using the Switcheroo Team! The online portal made everything really transparent and straightforward. The team in Switcheroo successfully helped us get credit approval after we were turned down by another bank due to a minor credit issue. Luke and Dylan were so helpful and communication was brilliant.
Cannot thank the team in Switcheroo enough. We are now owners of our dream home.
Karen and Shane
Movers – Dublin
Switcheroo helps us switch our mortgage to a cheaper rate. I have to say that both Luke and Dylan were brilliant, they were the best that I have worked with in any financial institution! They were so prompt and pro active with any query I had and Dylan’s help over the last 2 weeks to hit our target date of today was exceptional. I got several updates per day and even when I called him on his day off, I got a text back within minutes. I will definitely be recommending to my family, friends and work colleagues to look at switching their mortgage with this team
Mark
Switchers – Galway
