Same banks in Lodz as in UK?

I'll be moving to Lodz in September and got to thinking that if there was a bank there similar to here in UK (such as Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest, etc) I would open an account here rather than trying to set one up there. Would anyone know if there are similar banks in both locations, Lodz and UK?? If no similar banks, can you tell me what experiences I can expect when opening a bank account in Poland. Thanks!

I'm afraid none of the banks you mentioned are based in £ódź. If you're going to stay in Poland for a longer time (more than 6 months), I suggest you to open an account with a local Polish bank like Pekao. I'm sure there are all kinds of banks in Warsaw though.

Lloyds just opened his branch in Lodz.

avoid ING. best service i found from Raifeissen

Can you tell me why to "avoid ING" ?

Please give reasons why someone should not open an account with them and why the other banks are better than ING

I have an multi-bank and it seems ok. They will let you open a bank easily. There is no connection from country to country on banks. I have citibank US account and could not open citibank account in £ódź, or got frustrated and gave up. Good luck.

Sorry, I've been busy and hadn't checked back lately. Thanks to Dalej for the heads-up about Lloyds!

Seems HSBC are about to launch a high street banking operation, certainly a top-end one anyway.

Other than that, BZWBK are 71% owned by Allied Irish Banks, but there aren't really such strong ties.

I have ( or friends have ) opened accounts with BPH, BZWBK and Millennium, they all have internet banking in English.

Those are great suggestions, thanks. Arrived in Lodz just this week so will check out those banks recommended.

Just to follow up....I opened an account with BZWBK. I went to them because, for me, their internet banking website had an option in English and looked the most user friendly. Although I stood in line quite a while waiting to be serviced, once helped they were very nice and made a real effort in English. I had to phone the bank the next day because I couldn't figure out what my "NIK" was....and they were very pleasant and helped me find it in all the paperwork they'd given me.

Thanks again to all of you for your banking suggestions.

Hello Bev, I see it's sometime now since you moved to Poland and was wondering what it's like living there? I too may be moving over there with my wife and 2 yr old son sometime next year.....

- How are you finding the language barrier? I see you previously commented harder than living in the UK but easier than South Korea?
- How big is the expat community in Lodz, are you able to find some international communities?
- Do you know of any expats there with kids? I've a 2 yr old son and was looking for kindergartens etc... sofar didn't find any on the web

Thanks in advance for any help input

later
Forest4ever

Hello Forest: We've been away for a few days and I only last night saw your message. There doesn't appear to be an expat community in Lodz, or at least I've not been able to find one yet. Am considering trying to generate interest in one because I suspect there are getting to be quite a few expats here, but not until January or February. I also don't know anything about kindergartens, since our kids are grown, but I'm sure they are around, so don't worry about that.

As far as what it's like to live here....I can only tell you from my perspective, some others may see it totally different. I do feel, though, that one's attitude...no matter where they live...has a great impact on how they feel about where they live and how well their children accept the change too. Of course that's a generalization....I'm speaking about the normal kind of places, there are places in the world where no amount of positiveness could keep one safe or warm or well fed, etc.

That said, I'm finding Lodz easier and easier. Yes, the language is challenging and probably always will be...but then I've made a choice not to learn more than the basic hello, thank you, etc since we won't be here more than two years and I'll be going back to the States at least three times a year. Even with my limited ability, I can still communicate with hand motions, using dictionary, drawing pictures, using a local map; but moreso, the Polish people (in general) know enough english that we all manage to communicate. Some can speak it quite well. As time goes on it seems we are picking up a few words simply because we see them a lot. Many restaurants will provide you with english menus. We've also found a medical clinic, Medicover, and they have a nice lady on staff who translates for us. A work colleague suggested an inexpensive computer program which easily translates written text from Polish to English and vise-a-versa. It can help when looking up things on the internet. For me, the hard part at the beginning is always making that first step with communicating with people...in shops, grocery store, at train station, but now I don't have any qualms doing it because I've done it so often. One just has to get out there and do it! We've found a wonderful Polish Baptist church....they provide a translator to sit with us each Sunday...such a blessing. We're getting more and more familiar with street names and finding our way around. I was initially terrified of driving because (no offense intended to anyone Polish who might be reading this) but they are a bit crazy on the road compared to where I'm from. If you've ever driven in southern California though you might feel right at home! haha. Now I'm able to get around a fair amount of the town, and if I can do it anyone can!

Would this be your first international living experience? I have to tell you...the first place we ever moved to was England. Initially it seemed such a shock. We laugh now to think that we felt England was such a challenge! haha. I guess we've grown since then. Just shows that anyplace outside one's own country can be an adjustment at first.

Hope this has answered your questions. Please feel free to ask further. Bev

Bev, great thanks for your update. I think we will be moving over around February assuming my move with the company I work for goes through...I also got your e-mail and will reply over the weekend, I;ve been travelling a while and just catching up....thanks again FOREST