AIB Merchant Services: Clover costs in Ireland 2026
What AIB Merchant Services actually costs — Clover rental, the €59.99 software fee, PCI charges, minimum monthly, and 1-4 year contracts.
Card machinesUpdated
AIB Merchant Services is the largest card acquirer in Ireland, trading as First Merchant Processing (Ireland) DAC and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. It says it works with more than 50,000 businesses across 20 countries and has been processing payments for over 45 years.
It also publishes no pricing at all. Every figure on this page comes from independent Irish review reporting, not from AIBMS, and your quote may differ. Treat these as indicative and get everything in writing.
Devices
AIBMS leads with Clover hardware — a smart terminal range with its own till software — alongside PAX terminals.
| Device | Reported monthly rental |
|---|---|
| Clover Mini | €32.50 |
| Clover Station | €40.00 |
| Clover Mobile | €44.00 |
| Clover Flex / PAX A920Pro | From €25–€45 |
Rentals exclude VAT. You rent; you do not own.
The costs that are not the rental
This is where AIBMS gets expensive, and it is the reason a €32.50 terminal quote turns into a much larger monthly bill.
| Charge | Reported cost |
|---|---|
| Merchant account fee | €4/month |
| Minimum monthly service charge | ~€30/month |
| PCI-DSS compliance | €15/month (€25 if non-compliant) |
| Clover software | €59.99/month per device |
| Each additional Clover device | €24.99/month |
| Setup fee | €0–€200 one-off |
| Chargebacks | €20 each |
| Paper statements | €7/month |
Add a Clover Mini at €32.50, the €4 account fee and €15 PCI, and you are at €51.50 a month before processing a single payment. Add Clover software at €59.99 and it is €111.49.
Transaction fees sit on top. AIBMS uses interchange++ pricing, so rates depend on the card presented — reported as roughly 1% to 3% plus a fixed fee of €0.01 to €0.15 and a €0.02 authorisation charge per transaction.
Contract
One to four years, with early termination charged as the remaining months of the contract.
That is the longest commitment of any provider covered on this site. A four-year contract at €111 a month is a €5,300 obligation, and exiting early does not reduce it.
Payouts
Not published. Independent reviews report settlement times as slow as a week in some cases, though faster arrangements exist. Ask for your specific settlement timeline in writing — it is a working capital question, not a detail.
Who it suits
A larger Irish business with the volume to negotiate: multiple tills, six-figure card turnover, a real need for Clover’s stock, staff and reporting software, and an existing AIB relationship.
At that scale, interchange++ pricing is genuinely more transparent than a blended rate, and the fixed monthly costs spread across enough transactions to stop mattering. A restaurant group doing €80,000 a month on cards is a completely different customer from a market stall.
It does not suit a small or seasonal business. The stacked monthly fees make a quiet month expensive, and the contract length removes your ability to leave.
Honest downsides
No published pricing. You cannot compare AIBMS before speaking to sales, and independent reviewers describe it as not transparent about pricing and contract terms.
Fixed costs stack fast. Rental, account fee, PCI, software and minimum charge can pass €110 a month before any transaction fees.
One to four year contracts, with early exit charged as the remaining term.
PCI fee, and a penalty for not certifying. €15 a month, rising to €25 if you fail to complete compliance. BOIPA charges nothing for this and Dojo includes it.
Settlement time not published, with reports of up to a week.
€20 per chargeback and €7 a month for paper statements — small individually, but they add up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AIB card machine cost per month?
Reported Clover rentals run from €25 to €45 a month excluding VAT, but rental is only part of it. Adding the €4 merchant account fee, €15 PCI fee and €59.99 Clover software brings a single terminal to around €111 a month before transaction fees. AIBMS does not publish pricing, so get your own quote.
What are AIB Merchant Services transaction fees?
Interchange++ pricing, reported at roughly 1% to 3% plus a fixed fee of €0.01 to €0.15 and a €0.02 authorisation charge, depending on the card type presented. Your rate is quoted individually.
How long is an AIB Merchant Services contract?
One to four years, with early termination charged as the remaining months. Confirm the exact term and exit cost before signing.
Do I need an AIB business account to use AIB Merchant Services?
No, AIBMS operates as a separate entity from AIB’s banking arm. But an existing AIB relationship is often what brings businesses to it, and it can help in negotiation.
Is AIB Merchant Services worth it for a small business?
Usually not. Below roughly €5,000 a month in card turnover the fixed monthly costs dominate, and the contract length removes your flexibility. SumUp, Square or Revolut cost nothing in a quiet month and nothing to leave. AIBMS makes sense at volume, with multiple tills, or where Clover’s software is genuinely the reason you are buying.