Updated October 14, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team
Bank of Ireland vs Taishin Bank
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 3.1% | 3% to 4.49%Lower |
| APRC | 3.8% | 3.04% to 4.55%Lower |
| Fixed period | 4 years | 20 yearsHigher |
| Maximum loan to value | 90%Higher | 80% |
| Product fee | €150 to €250 | NT$8,000 to NT$10,000 |
| Purpose | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Buy to let, Equity release | Purchase, Remortgage, Home equity, Equity release |
Same on both: Lender type (Direct lender).
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Key differences
- Bank of Ireland scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Founded is lower at Bank of Ireland: 1783 vs 1992.
- Bank of Ireland is licensed in 1 more country.
- Bank of Ireland is available in 1 more country.
- Initial rate is lower at Taishin Bank: 3% to 4.49% vs 3.1%.
- APRC is lower at Taishin Bank: 3.04% to 4.55% vs 3.8%.
- Fixed period is higher at Taishin Bank: 20 years vs 4 years.
- Maximum loan to value is higher at Bank of Ireland: 90% vs 80%.
- Support channels: only Taishin Bank offers Email.
- Purpose: only Bank of Ireland offers First time buyer, Buy to let.
Our verdict on each
Bank of Ireland
Bank of Ireland suits borrowers in the Republic of Ireland who want a mortgage and a personal loan from one long established bank, with a variable personal loan rate starting at 7.1% to 8.9%.
Taishin Bank
Taishin Bank Taiwan offers general personal-credit products with online application, contract verification, document submission and status inquiry. The listed general criteria specify local nationals aged 20 to 60.
Score breakdown
| Area | Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherPersonal loan fee is 0 EUR - no arrangement fee and variable rate of 7.1% to 8.9% sits under the 12% site median. | 8.8 |
| Offer | 9.2Fixed mortgage hold is 4, lower than the 10 median fixed period. | 9.8Higher |
| Trust | 9.6Higher | 9.3 |
Choosing between them
Pick Bank of Ireland if cost, trust, and maximum loan to value matter most.
Pick Taishin Bank if offer, initial rate, aprc, and fixed period matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
Bank of Ireland
- personalbanking.bankofireland.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bankofireland.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Taishin Bank
- taishinbank.com.tw: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Personal loans | 275 of 1920 | 382 of 1920 |
| Mortgages | 45 of 716 | 99 of 716 |
| Remortgage deals | 28 of 351 | 69 of 351 |
| Equity release | 2 of 32 | 3 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Bank of Ireland Group plc | Taishin International Bank Co., Ltd. (Taishin Bank), Unified No. 86519539 |
| Headquarters | Ireland | Taiwan |
| Founded | 1783Lower | 1992 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre, Community | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Loans
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| APR | 7.1% to 8.9% | 4.12% to 16.39%Lower |
| Loan amount | €2,000 to €75,000 | NT$150,000 to NT$5,000,000 |
| Term | 12 to 60 months | 24 to 120 monthsHigher |
| Arrangement fee | 0 EUR - no arrangement fee | NT$9,000 total related fees in the general credit loan APR example |
| Credit check | Hard | Hard |
| Funding time | 24-48 hours after signed credit agreement | Funds available within 30 minutes after approval |
| Representative example | Personal loan of EUR20,000 over 5 years at 6.9% variable, 7.1% APR, monthly repayment EUR394.71, cost of credit EUR3,682.60 | One-stage amortising credit loan, NT$300,000 for 5 years with a 12-period lock-in period, rate 2.88%-15% floating, total fees NT$9,000, total cost APR 4.12%-16.39% |
| Features | Not confirmed | Same day funding |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Free early repayment | YesHas it | No |
| Eligibility | 18 years of age or over, resident in the Republic of Ireland, and an existing Bank of Ireland current account customer registered for 365 online to apply online | ROC (Taiwan) nationals aged 20-60; full-time employees with 6 months' tenure and annual income of at least NT$300,000, or Taishin credit card holders of 6 months or more |
| Origination fee (%) | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Loan types | Personal, Car, StudentCovers more | Personal |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | 3.1%lowest quarter | 3% to 4.49%lowest quarter | 4.74% |
| APRC | 3.8%lowest quarter | 3.04% to 4.55%lowest quarter | 5.11% |
| Fixed period | 4 yearslowest quarter | 20 yearsabove the median | 10 years |
| Maximum loan to value | 90%at the median | 80%below the median | 90% |
Median across 285 listed lenders.
Pros and cons
Bank of Ireland
Pros
- No arrangement fee on the personal loan: 0 EUR - no arrangement fee
- Variable personal loan rates of 7.1% to 8.9%, below the 12% site median
- A direct lender rather than a broker, so you deal with the lender itself
Cons
- Applying online needs an existing current account with a waiting period of registered online use
- A hard credit check applies, while 72.7% of lenders on the site also use one
- The fixed mortgage period of 4 sits below the 10 median for mortgage products
Taishin Bank
Pros
- General personal-credit product.
- Online application, contract verification, document submission and status inquiry.
Cons
- Additional employment and income criteria apply; the age and nationality criteria do not guarantee approval.
Who each suits
Bank of Ireland
Who it suits
- Existing Bank of Ireland current account customers in the Republic of Ireland looking for a mortgage
- Borrowers who want a personal loan with no arrangement fee and free early repayment
- People who prefer dealing with the lender directly rather than through a broker
Who should look elsewhere
- Borrowers wanting a long fixed mortgage period, since 4 is short against the market
- People without an existing Bank of Ireland current account, who cannot apply online
- Anyone wanting a fixed rate on a personal loan, because variable applies
Taishin Bank
Who it suits
- Taiwan nationals aged 20 to 60 comparing Taishin personal-credit products and online application services.
Current offers
Bank of Ireland
Current offer
Bonus
Cashback Plus on new mortgage drawdown: Up to 3% of mortgage drawdown (2% after drawdown, 1% after 5 years)
For first-time buyers, movers and switchers drawing down a new mortgage on qualifying fixed rates. Not available on High Value Mortgage fixed rates or standard variable rate; additional 1% not available for buy-to-let or equity release. Terms and conditions apply.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Taishin Bank
Current offer
Bonus
LG Mall 8-day promotion: 1,500 Taishin Points for NT$15,000 spend: 1,500 points
Limited 8-day promotion, spend of NT$15,000 or more; posted 2026/09/22 in Taishin offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Taishin Pay+ new customer offer: Up to 19% discount plus 10% rebate
New Taishin Pay+ customers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Bank of Ireland | Taishin Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Yes | No |
| Taiwan | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Bank of Ireland
What is the arrangement fee on a Bank of Ireland personal loan?+
The personal loan carries 0 EUR - no arrangement fee, so there is no arrangement fee to pay when the loan is taken. The percentage fee is 0%. The variable rate behind the loan runs 7.1% to 8.9%, and early repayment is free if you want to clear the balance sooner.
How does the Bank of Ireland personal loan compare with the site median?+
The variable rate of 7.1% to 8.9% sits below the 12% median APR across lenders on the site. Borrowing runs €2,000 to €75,000 over 12 to 60, which is a larger ceiling than the €876.96 median amount on the site.
Who regulates Bank of Ireland?+
In the Republic of Ireland the regulator is the Central Bank of Ireland, and in the United Kingdom it is the Prudential Regulation Authority. The lending itself is done by Bank of Ireland Group plc as a direct lender, so there is no broker between the application and the decision.
What mortgage rate can I get from Bank of Ireland?+
The initial rate is 3.1% and the headline figure is an APRC of 3.8%, against a 4.9% median on the site. The rate is fixed for 4, which is shorter than the 10 median fixed period in the mortgage ranking.