Bank of Ireland has announced a new strategic partnership with Stripe to accelerate payments innovation, streamline backend operations and explore deeper integration of AI-driven financial technologies across the group. The deal marks a further step in Bank of Ireland's digital transformation programme and deepens an existing relationship between the two Irish-rooted organisations.

Detailed in the announcement, Stripe's programmable money movement technology already supports payments reconciliation at Davy, the Bank of Ireland Group-owned wealth and capital markets business, which has processed more than €2 billion through Stripe's Bank Transfer product since 2021, saving around 3,000 hours a year. New Ireland Assurance, the group's life and pensions provider, is set to introduce a similar solution.

The structural driver behind the partnership is Bank of Ireland's push to modernise its payments infrastructure and embed AI directly into core operating systems, building on a series of recent launches including Zippay for instant mobile-to-mobile payments, Quicker Payments for UK business same-day transfers and SEPA Instant for euro payments.

"We always strive to provide easy-to-access and fast service to our customers. Payments are a core part of the value we deliver and partnering with Stripe provides us with new opportunities," said Susan Russell, CEO of Retail Ireland at Bank of Ireland. "Stripe is a great success story, with a strong Irish heritage."

"We've been working with Bank of Ireland Group for several years. Deepening that relationship is now about going further and bringing the same level of speed and reliability to other areas so they can move faster for their customers," said Conor McNamara, Chief Revenue Officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Stripe.

Bank of Ireland Group plc is headquartered in Dublin and trades on Euronext Dublin and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker BIRG, reporting net income of €1.12 billion for 2025. The group serves more than 4 million customers across Ireland, the UK and the European Union.

Stripe, founded by Nenagh natives John and Patrick Collison, maintains dual global headquarters in Dublin and San Francisco and provides financial infrastructure services to millions of businesses worldwide. The company is privately held and does not disclose turnover or EBITDA figures.

For the sector, the expanded partnership reflects growing use of AI, automation and digital payments technology in Irish banking, as institutions look to specialist fintech infrastructure rather than building comparable capability entirely in house.

Source: thinkbusiness.ie