Membership Benefits

IBOA has been the premier union for staff working in Ireland's financial services sector since 1917. The Union currently represents almost 22,000 members – employed in areas from mainstream banking to finance and leasing companies, in all types of locations from retail branches to call centres.

Unlike many general unions which have members in many different sectors, IBOA only seeks to represent workers in the financial services sector. Our representatives and the staff that support them are fully conversant with the issues of concern to financial services workers. They also have the specialist expertise to offer dedicated, professional advice, representation and support based upon IBOA's experience of helping thousands of employees working in finance.

This representation and support includes:

Industrial Relations – Collective Issues
IBOA negotiates with your employer on behalf of members on a wide range of issues including salary and terms and conditions of employment, health and safety, training for professional qualifications and so on.

Industrial Relations – Individual Cases
IBOA also represents individual members on cases of personal concern. The Union can draw on industrial relations and legal expertise for the benefit of members in either formal or informal settings. This service is largely unsung because it is provided on a completely confidential basis to IBOA members.

Members' Information Service
Closely supporting the Union's industrial relations activities is IBOA's research and information service which records and collates the details on remuneration, terms and conditions of employment for members. The service also provides advice on members' legal rights in the workplace.

Members' Training and Development
IBOA offers a range of training and development opportunities for members. The Union provides training for IBOA representatives to assist them with their work on behalf of their colleagues. It also provides specific courses designed to enhance members' career development needs. These courses include preparation for interviews and appraisals as well as presentation skills. As a partner in the Women at Work Skillnet, IBOA also offers a range of personal development programmes for members – both male and female. For more information on members' training and development, click here.

Analysis of Workplace Issues
IBOA conducts many studies on workplace issues of concern to members, such as aspects of health and safety, stress, bullying and harassment and the development of work patterns and practices which promote a more healthy work-life balance. These studies may be specific to a particular employment in order to provide support for an IBOA claim; they may also be of more general interest as the Union attempts to raise awareness of sector-wide issues.

Regular Communications
IBOA endeavours to keep members up-to-date with news and information in a wide variety of waya. Apart from this website, the Union also produces a quarterly magazine, Spectrum, which is distributed to each member in their own homes.

Regular updates (both printed and electronic) are provided to IBOA representatives to distribute to their work colleagues. The Union also uses text messaging to mobile phones to highlight issues of immediate concern.

In addition membership meetings are convened as required to ensure that members are aware of important developments. As the representative body for workers in the financial services, IBOA also endeavours to bring their interests and views to the attention of the wider public through the national and local media.

Sports and Social Activities
IBOA offers a range of sports and social activities for members – including golfing events, family visits to zoos and pantomimes and other entertainments. Two social clubs have been established for members – one in Belfast and one in Dublin – where members can enjoy reasonably priced drinks with up to four non-members. For more information click here.

Discount Offers for IBOA Members
IBOA also strives to assist members in as many ways as possible.

The IBOAPlus discount scheme is open to all members offering substantial savings for a range of goods and services including:

  • Free Legal Cover and Legal Benefit in Civil Matters
  • Discounts on Car, Holiday and Health Insurance
  • Mobile Phone Offers
  • Serious Illness and Personal Accident Cover
  • Special Discounts on Entertainment (e,g., Tickets for Cinema, Zoo Visits, Christmas Pantomimes and Concerts

IBOABreakaway programme offers attractive rates and other benefits for forty hotels in Ireland.

For more information on discount offers for members,click here.

IBOA members in the Republic of Ireland can also avail of an Income Tax Credit on their IBOA subscription to save even more!