MABS

What MABS does

MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) is a non-profit, State-funded money advice service operating in Ireland since 1992. It serves individuals and families experiencing personal debt or financial difficulty, delivering free, confidential, and independent advice through 60+ physical offices nationwide organized under eight regional companies, the National Traveller MABS, and a national back-office layer (MABS Support CLG). The service mix spans one-to-one money advice, court accompaniment, Debt Relief Notice preparation, and the Abhaile mortgage arrears programme (launched 2016), supplemented by a digital self-service toolkit — My Budget, My Full Financial Picture, My Financial Healthcheck, and My Financial Statement — that extends access beyond the physical office footprint.

The business model is a public-service grant model: MABS charges clients nothing and is funded entirely through Service Level Agreements with the Citizens Information Board, a statutory agency of the Irish Government. There is no commercial revenue, pricing model, or sales motion; reach is instead determined by Government policy priorities and the CIB's annual allocation. The organization's most significant recent product move was the March 2025 launch of Financial Readiness for Life in partnership with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), extending the service from reactive debt counselling into upstream financial education delivered via the higher-education channel. The 2022 reorganization under MABS Support CLG and the integration of the Companies Regulation function into the CIB framework consolidated governance over the regional network.

Strategically, MABS sits in a category of one within its remit — it is the only State-funded free money advice service at national scale in Ireland. Its competitive position is therefore a function of public-policy continuity and grant funding rather than market share dynamics. End-user reach (millions of Irish residents eligible for the service) is large in principle but constrained in practice by office capacity, advisory staffing, and the slow pace of digital channel adoption relative to commercial fintech competitors.

Name

MABS

Legal name

Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

Website

https://mabs.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MABS is the Irish State-funded, free money advice service operating through 60+ offices nationwide since 1992, serving individuals in debt via one-to-one advice, the Abhaile mortgage arrears programme, and digital budgeting tools, funded entirely by the Citizens Information Board.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Advisory Services

NAICS

Collection Agencies (561440)

SIC

Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Credit Counseling & Debt Management Plans (DMP) (FSAKAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Literacy, Debt Counseling & Default Prevention (EDALAJAK)

Keywords

• Debt advisory services
• Budgeting advice
• Mortgage arrears support
• Financial literacy education
• Money management

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: MABS is entirely funded by the Citizens Information Board, a statutory agency under the Irish government. The service is provided free of charge to all clients. Revenue comes from government grants and allocations rather than client fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) provides free, confidential, and independent money advice, budgeting support, and debt management services to individuals across Ireland. Its core offerings include one-on-one money advice via a national helpline and 60+ local offices, the Abhaile mortgage arrears resolution scheme, online self-service budgeting and financial planning tools, and community-based money management education programmes. All services are provided free of charge to clients, with no fees, subscriptions, or charges.

Product overview

MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service) is Ireland's State-funded money advice service operating since 1992. It is not a single software product but a network of services comprising: a national network of 60+ local offices offering face-to-face money advice; a national helpline (0818 07 2000); online self-service digital tools (My Budget, My Full Financial Picture, My Financial Healthcheck, My Financial Statement); the Abhaile mortgage arrears support scheme; and community education programmes. The digital portfolio centres on the My Budget interactive budgeting tool and the My Full Financial Picture PDF planning tool. The Abhaile service provides free vouchers for mortgage advice, legal advice, and insolvency advice. MABS also delivers money management education in schools, workplaces, and communities, including a partnered online course with ATU called 'Financial Readiness for Life'. All services are free, confidential, and independent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Budget: Interactive budgeting tool to help users manage their finances by tracking income and expenses
• My Full Financial Picture
• My Financial Healthcheck
• My Budget Tool

Products and services

• My Budget Interactive online budgeting tool that helps users compare income against expenditure. Calculates and displays figures in weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts, and allows users to save and amend their budget plan. Free to use via mabs.ie.
• My Full Financial Picture Step-by-step PDF guide to help users get a complete understanding of money coming in and going out, including space to record bills, credit, assets, and debts. Used to create a plan for tackling one or more debts. Must be downloaded and used with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• My Financial Healthcheck Financial assessment tool that allows users to evaluate their current financial situation and identify areas for improvement. Free to use via mabs.ie.
• My Financial Statement Template for presenting financial offers to creditors. Used after completing the My Full Financial Picture tool to formalise and communicate repayment proposals.
• Abhaile Government-funded mortgage arrears support scheme launched in 2016. Provides vouchers for free financial advice, legal advice, insolvency advice, and expert support to help homeowners resolve mortgage arrears and remain in their homes. Managed through MABS with a dedicated adviser assigned to each case.
• MABS Helpline National telephone helpline (0818 07 2000) operating Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm. Provides confidential, independent advice and support on money management and debt issues. Managed by North Dublin MABS helpline advisers.
• Face-to-Face Money Advice Service In-person advisory service available at over 60 MABS offices nationwide. Staffed by experienced Money Advisers who work with clients experiencing difficulties with personal loans, mortgages, credit card debt, catalogue debts, debts to legal moneylenders, and hire purchases.
• Request a Call Back Online scheduling service allowing users to request a callback from a MABS helpline adviser at a chosen day and time between Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.
• Financial Readiness for Life Free online course developed by MABS and ATU (Atlantic Technological University). Covers budgeting, managing expenses, borrowing, identifying scams, and tackling debt. Awards a digital badge upon completion. Available to students and the public via the ATU free courses platform.
• Money Management Education Programmes Community-based education programmes delivered in schools, workplaces, and community settings. Covers budgeting basics, borrowing, savings, credit register awareness, and scam prevention. Delivered as workshops, once-off sessions, and structured multi-session programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 660 financial literacy events delivered in 2025, engaging more than 13,600 people
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Atlantic Technological University (ATU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025MABS partnered with ATU to launch 'Financial Readiness for Life', a free online course covering budgeting, managing expenses, borrowing, identifying scams, and tackling debt. Developed by ATU's Access and Widening Participation Office and MABS to help students build financial confidence. Won Dr. Brendan McCormack UDL award in 2026.
• Northside PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMABS is supporting a pilot programme 'Money Made Sense' developed in partnership with Northside Partnership and TASC to support participants to develop their financial capabilities. Structured approach with co-designed content delivered over multiple sessions.
• National Traveller MABScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting Service CLG works to reduce poverty, discrimination and financial exclusion of Travellers in Ireland. Works with Traveller community and organisations to change policy and practice. Offers courses including budgeting, dealing with debt, and tackling legal and illegal moneylending. Company Limited by Guarantee, RCN 20058388.
• Citizens Information BoardflagshipOthersMABS is funded by the Citizens Information Board, a statutory agency based at George's Quay House, Dublin 2. The Citizens Information Board maintains the mabs.ie website and manages social media accounts for MABS/Abhaile Communications team. Provides oversight, governance, and administrative support across all MABS regional companies.
• Donegal VECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeveloped 'EuroWatchers' home budgeting programme with Donegal VEC. This community education initiative was delivered through most VECs in the country as a structured money management education programme.
• Citizens Information Board (CMS Transition)coreOthersFrom May 2022, MABS Support CLG transitioned case management system (CMS) and third-party data processing to Citizens Information Board (CIB). Old CMS 'MABSIS' decommissioned with all personal data deleted by August 31, 2022.
• TASCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TASC (Think tank for Action on Social Change) on 'Money Made Sense' pilot programme to support participants develop financial capabilities alongside Northside Partnership.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Money Advice Trust: UK charity that operates National Debtline and Business Debtline. Highly comparable as a parent organization of debt advice services analogous to MABS Support CLG's role within the MABS network.
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP): UK charity providing free debt counseling, money management courses, and life skills groups. Comparable to MABS in offering free debt advice, structured budgeting education, and community-based delivery.
• National Debtline (UK): UK free debt advice service providing telephone and online counseling for personal debt. Comparable to MABS's helpline and online self-service model, focused specifically on debt rather than general money advice.
• Citizens Advice (UK): UK national charity providing free, independent, confidential advice on debt, money, housing, and consumer issues. Closest comparable to MABS in scope, mission, and delivery model — both are State/charity-funded generalist advice services.
• PayPlan: UK free debt advice and Debt Management Plan provider. Comparable to MABS's debt counseling and creditor negotiation services with similar client demographic focus.
• StepChange Debt Charity: UK's leading debt advice charity providing free, confidential debt advice and Debt Management Plans. Directly comparable to MABS's core debt counseling function with similar client outcomes and creditor negotiation services.
• Citizens Information (Ireland): Irish public service providing free information on rights, entitlements, and services, operated by the Citizens Information Board — MABS's parent funder. Highly comparable as a sister statutory service for Irish consumers.

Others

• TASC (Think tank for Action on Social Change): Irish think tank focused on inequality and social policy. Currently partners with MABS on the 'Money Made Sense' financial capability pilot, making it a strategic partner adjacent to MABS's financial inclusion mission.

Broad incumbents

• MoneyHelper (UK): UK government-backed free money and pensions guidance service. Comparable to MABS as a State-funded financial guidance service but with a broader pensions and consumer focus beyond debt.

Regional players

• Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI): Irish statutory body responsible for administering personal insolvency arrangements including Debt Relief Notices — a solution MABS helps clients access. Operates in the same regulatory space as MABS within Ireland.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mabsinfo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwhlvUPJYAS4GoO36zAhy-A
• Facebookfacebook.com/MABSinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/money-advice-budgeting-service-ireland
• Instagraminstagram.com/mabsinfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MABS