I've posted this earlier on the "Everything about Travel" section of the boards but thought I'd post here as well since it's about Ireland banking. Your advice on the following please:
Can I get some of your thoughts on the following. The organization that is the link between my daughters College and her jr. semester study abroad program in Cork Ireland suggested the student establish a bank acct. in Ireland as soon as she arrives and receive an ATM card to withdraw money as needed. To do this they suggest buying "Euro travellers checks" now in America in the amount we guess she will need for her semester there. It would be a safe way for her to carry a large amount of money into Ireland to deposit into the bank. We are now in the process of getting her a Visa Capitol One credit card to have in her possession. The ATM from the Irish Bank would enable her to pull money with no fees. Can you give me your thoughts on this suggestion and also where does one buy euro travellers check in the USA? I'm just trying to sort out the easiest way for her to have access to money without incurring lots of fees. Help please. Barb Cabot PS If all of this is a "go" which bank in Ireland/Cork do you suggest?

Barb, this is doable as described by the school. All major U.S. banks sell Euro T/C just as before they sold T/C in german marks or french francs, etc. Branches will get them for you from their Head Office.

I assume the bank in Ireland will need the usual documentation to open an account for your daughter and a passport is usually just fine. She will be able to get a cash card as soon as the traveller's cheques clear. In this respect, each bank have its own standards, but it is usually from no waiting at all to a few days, so some Euro cash on hand will also be welcome.

And she will be left at the end with a Euro account in Ireland. If she is the daughter of a Slow Traveller, I'm sure she will find later uses for this account.

Here is a list of banks in County Cork. The ones I know best are Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland, but my knowledge is now somewhat dated. It will also depend on where exactly she will stay, which you did not specify. People there may be able to recommend a conveniently located bank branch.

Doru, thank you once again for your expert advice. Slowtravellers never disappoint! Barb Cabot

We opened a bank account in England a couple of years ago and only needed our US Passports for ID. We wrote a check on our US bank and deposited that. They gave us debit cards and even a credit card (with a very low limit).

When we go to England we wire transfer money from our US account to the England account, then use our English debit cards while we are there (to get cash and to pay for things).

Barb, is this a different daughter going to Ireland than who is in NYC now? If it's the same one, she can contact Irish banks that have Manhattan branches to see what they suggest.

gopika, Thanks for this tip. It is the same daughter that is in NYC now. I'll tell her to check it out. See my 10 week housing post for an update on her stay. She leaves NYC Aug. 10th, comes to L.A. for one week and then flys out to Dublin Aug. 17th. Just enough time to unpack, do laundry and pack again. I wish it were me! Thank you Gopika. Barb Cabot

Barb, the two main banks in Ireland are the Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank and I expect they will both have branches in NYC. One of my sons opened an account with the Bank of Ireland (who I am with) a couple of years ago (with an English address) and they made him fill in endless forms. I think they are so paranoid about money laundering schemes (which have been a big feature in the past) that they make you jump through hoops and it was certainly not as easy as in England!

Allied Irish Bk

Anglo Irish Bk

Both bks look like they are for commercial not retail banking.

Another thought is to open an acct. at an int'l bk such as HSBC.

I defer to Felicity on the ease of opening an acct. in Ireland vs. the US as I have no experience in that.

Barb, your daughter is one lucky kid to have a mom like you!!!

Hmmm lots of good and very interesting info. Am going to have to sit and think things over. Thanks so much to Felicity and Gopika for some insight into the banks of Ireland. Still mulling this one over. Barb Cabot