EU directive gives right to all citizens to open bank account

All EU citizens across the 28 member States will now have the right, in law, to open a bank account.

While taken for granted in Ireland, up to 58 million citizens over the age of 15 across other EU countries have had difficulty opening accounts due to literacy, financial or character issues.

Alicia O'Rourke of the EU office in Dublin, said the directive would benefit European citizens and traders.