'); Irish banks want to take on Revolut together — but why has the competition watchdog 'rejected' them? Why has it taken so long for Irish banks to address competition from fresh-faced fintech companies? By Ian Curran Sunday 24 Jan 2021, 6:30 AM Jan 24th 2021, 6:30 AM 76,285 Views 37 Comments Image: SIPA USA/PA Images Image: SIPA USA/PA Images THERE WAS SEEMINGLY good news for Irish consumers last week when it was reported that four Irish retail banks — Bank of Ireland, AIB, Permanent TSB and KBC — were formally moving ahead with plans to band together to create a payments app, Synch Payments, to rival digital challenger banks.