This is called IBAN discrimination, and it is illegal.
IBAN stands for International Bank Account Number and is the unique combination of numbers and letters that identifies your account in the Single European Payments Area (SEPA).
Your IBAN is used to make and receive domestic and international euro payments across SEPA countries.
These payments were harmonised in 2014 when IBANs were made the standard identifier for all SEPA bank accounts.
IBAN discrimination is where an employer or company, such as a utility company, refuses to accept your SEPA IBAN for euro payments or direct debits.
However an Irish employer or utility company cannot insist you open or maintain an Irish bank account for euro transfers.
We are currently engaging with a range of stakeholders, including business representative bodies, regulated financial service providers, and major users of direct debits and credit transfers to remind them of their obligations.
To find out more, including what steps you can take to have your IBAN accepted, see our explainer:
“What is ‘IBAN discrimination’ and what can I do about it?”