Ulster Bank in 60 seconds
Ulster Bank at a glance (2026)
About Ulster Bank
Ulster Bank was founded in 1836 and historically operated on both sides of the Irish border. In February 2021, NatWest Group announced a phased withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland, completed on 21 April 2023. From that date, Ulster Bank has operated solely in Northern Ireland as a trading division of National Westminster Bank Plc.
During 2024 the Northern Ireland network was further trimmed, with around 10 additional branch closures, leaving roughly 25 branches by 2026. Ulster Bank customers in NI share the same NatWest Group app, customer support and product range as NatWest customers in England and Wales.
Ulster Bank accounts in 2026
Select Account
Ulster Bank’s standard fee-free current account for Northern Ireland customers. Mobile banking, Apple Pay and Google Pay supported.
- £0 monthly fee.
- Mobile and online banking.
- Contactless debit card.
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£10/month premium account with worldwide travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and 15% cashback on entertainment events. Open to existing customers only.
- Worldwide travel insurance.
- Mobile phone insurance.
- 15% cashback on entertainment events.
Adapt Account
Free account for 13- to 17-year-olds with the Ulster Bank app, 1.60% AER credit interest and parental visibility.
- No overdraft, no fees.
- Contactless debit card.
- 1.60% AER credit interest.
Foundation Account
Fee-free no-frills account for customers who do not qualify for a standard current account. No overdraft.
- Fee-free, no overdraft.
- Contactless debit card.
- Designed for customers with thin credit files.
Student Account
Student banking is now provided through NatWest Group’s wider Student Bank Account proposition for Ulster Bank Northern Ireland customers.
- Interest-free arranged overdraft.
- Same app and online banking.
- Same product as NatWest students.
What happened to Ulster Bank in the Republic of Ireland?
NatWest Group announced its withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland in February 2021. The phased closure of Ulster Bank ROI ran for two years, with most current accounts transferring to permanent tsb, AIB or Bank of Ireland. The final closure date for ROI operations was 21 April 2023.
If you held an Ulster Bank Republic of Ireland account, your money should have transferred to your chosen new provider before April 2023; any residual funds were treated under standard Irish dormant-account rules.
Ulster Bank customer service
Below are the verified Ulster Bank customer service contact lines for Northern Ireland.
Personal banking (NI)
Account help, payments, complaints
0345 742 4365
24/7
Top lineLost or stolen card (UK)
Block immediately
0370 600 0459
24/7
From abroad (debit)
Debit card services overseas
+44 131 549 8186
24/7
New customers
Opening an Ulster Bank account
0800 046 6486
Mon–Fri 08:30–20:00
Fraud reporting
Suspected scam or account compromise
+44 28 9053 8033
24/7
In-app chat
Ulster Bank NI mobile app
Open in app
24/7
Complaints and the Financial Ombudsman
Ulster Bank has up to eight weeks to issue a final response. If you are unhappy with the outcome, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Ulster Bank FAQ
No. Ulster Bank closed its Republic of Ireland operations on 21 April 2023. The bank now operates only in Northern Ireland under NatWest Group.
Yes. Ulster Bank operates as a trading division of National Westminster Bank Plc, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA. Eligible deposits in Northern Ireland are protected up to £85,000 by the FSCS.
Ulster Bank is a separate retail brand inside NatWest Group. The Northern Ireland branches, debit cards and statements all say Ulster Bank, but the underlying technology, app and Group services are shared with NatWest.
The bank has not confirmed any major new closure programme for 2026, but the NI branch network is already much smaller than it was in 2020. Use the Ulster Bank branch finder for live opening hours.