Bank of Ireland Plans AI Training for All Staff in 2026

TL;DR:

• Bank of Ireland is rolling out AI-immersion learning to its entire workforce throughout 2026, with 20% of staff already engaged in AI or data fluency programmes.
• AI-powered fraud detection prevented €9.7 million in fraudulent card transactions during 2025, while AI tools in contact centres reduced call transfers by 40%.
• The bank’s own research found 72% of customers believe it is important for banks to train employees in AI — a signal that workforce upskilling is becoming a competitive expectation, not just an internal initiative.

Bank of Ireland is scaling its AI education effort from targeted cohorts to a company-wide programme, with plans for every employee to receive AI-immersion learning before the end of 2026.

The initiative builds on existing momentum. More than 1,100 staff have completed data fluency and literacy courses, while over 1,200 are working through the bank’s AI Academy — a programme designed to develop practical understanding of AI in financial services. A further cohort has been selected for Cambridge Spark’s specialist AI course, aimed at employees who will lead the bank’s technology strategy.

Measurable Returns

The push comes with hard numbers behind it. During 2025, AI and machine learning models assessed one billion card transactions and prevented €9.7 million in fraud. The bank also delivered 127 million AI-powered spending insights to customers, while AI-assisted tools in contact centres reduced call transfers by 40% — getting customers to the right support faster.

Chief strategy officer Billy O’Connell said the bank is “building a bank that is ready for the future” and that internal demand for training has been strong.

Customer Expectations Driving the Agenda

Bank of Ireland’s own research underscores the commercial rationale. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of surveyed customers said they consider it important for banks and utility companies to train staff in AI. When asked where AI would be most useful, respondents highlighted fraud detection and faster query resolution as top priorities.

This aligns with a wider trend across UK and Irish financial services, where institutions face growing pressure to demonstrate both AI capability and responsible deployment. For UK banks watching from across the Irish Sea, Bank of Ireland’s approach offers a useful benchmark — particularly its combination of mass upskilling with specialist tracks for strategic roles.

Looking Forward

With 60% of those surveyed believing AI could help detect and prevent fraud, customer appetite is clearly ahead of where many institutions have deployed. Bank of Ireland’s bet is that training the full workforce — not just data teams — will accelerate adoption and build the trust needed to roll out more customer-facing AI features. Whether that approach outperforms the more cautious, department-by-department strategies favoured by some UK high street banks remains to be seen.