What banks are people using in Poland?

Post Office bank (Bank Pocsztowy) said nie to a Brit opening an account today. "Got to have a Polish ID card," said they lady at the counter, adding helpfully "he should go to another bank if he wants an account."

I was attracted to their account as it seemed to have no fees, unless I misunderstood the leaflet.

Is it legal under discrimination laws to turn away Brits/EU members who ask to open an account simply because they are not Polish (as was the stated reason today, yet again)? Serious question, not asked to provoke any rows or accusations of trolling. I just would like to know.

If you're legally resident in Poland, then they've got it wrong and you should complain.

If you mean do I have a blue card, yes. I also have a reg address here. But, I don't really want to bother with complaints paperwork or arguing with branch managers. I was just wondering whether they're breaking any laws. It's not like I've been declined on a creditworthiness basis, it appears to be solely "Poles only" from the moment I inquire.

I use ing I have no residency permit etc i am nor registered in poland i live in the uk my passport was all they needed to open an account If you get told no tell them to get the manager he will sort it in a few minutes the drones are just scared to make waves its easier to send you away then risk upseting the apple cart

Thanks, but I am getting increasingly curious as to the legality of declining me at the other banks so far. I probably will pop into ING, they haven't had a chance to decline me yet :o)

I was told by a big bank recently that I cannot have an account unless I have both a PESELanda Poland ID card or Poland passport.

This now makes 3 banks that I know of telling foreigners, even if registered and tax resident, to go away.

The bank is a French one in Poland, nice staff but they said the bank's rules are the rules.

Legally able to decline non Poland ID card or Passport holders on that basis or are they on shaky ground? I assume the get out clause is that there is probably some way for non Poles to get an ID card anyway and that's what they'd use as a defence.

This seems very strange to me. With only a British passport I was able to open accounts in at least 3 banks where I had Polish zl accounts.

Try another bank.

Same here. Perhaps they've changed, or it's a small town that isn't used to people from outside PL. I suggest PKO BP at the Rotunda by metro centrum. They opened an account for me years ago with just a passport and a contract of employment. Before even my residency and work permit had come through.

I've also used BPH, Citibank, Fortis and Nordea without a pesel or showing more than my passport and occasionally a contract.

I opened an account with Alior a few weeks ago with no PESEL and no ID other than my British passport.

Yes, I opened accounts at other banks, but this one has an attractive deal for switchers. Most banks don't make such demands, this one does. I wonder if they are allowed to insist on a Polish ID or passport under EU regs?

Yes, a bank can do this provided the member state's local laws permit it.

i suggests next banks, if you want your money safe (in next 20 years, at least):

Credit Agricole
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China
Mitsubishi UFJ
Sber Bank

"The bank is a French one in Poland, nice staff but they said the bank's rules are the rules."

If you are referring to the French Bank as BNP Paribas/Fortis then then whomever you spoke to is misinformed... All you need is a passport, nothing more.

How much is the minimum balance required? How about the currency? Can I open account in USD or GBP?

In which bank? Usually you don't have to have any minimum balance, but when you don't have it, you pay more (or you pay, while normally you wouldn't pay at all) for having the account. And it's rather not about the balance, but about either income to the account within a month, or transactions made by a card within a month.


In most of the banks you can.

Thank you KPC. Very helpful!!
Actually I phrased my question with incomplete information.

In short, I am looking to open an account in a good and reliable bank with no "unnecessary" charges and wide network where I can perform basic operations like paying bills, top-up mobiles, use its credit card with ease. When I say unnecessary charges I mean I don't pay charges for some basic services like withdrawing from ATM or balance inquiry.

From the posted in the forum I learnt that somehow I should forget about customer service. So not asking about that!

I don't know much about the offers of banks, especially those with physical offices where you can go and do something, not internet-only ones, but there is a comparison of bank accounts here:

najlepszekonto.pl/ranking-kont-osobistych
(mBank, Smart, T-Mobile, Inteligo are internet-only)

Here accounts in foreign currencies: najlepszekonto.pl/ranking-kont-walutowych
(Alior Kantor Walutowy is a virtual exchange office, not a typical account

Unfortunately Polish-only. Ask if you can't understand something, it's difficult to translate everything here.

A big bundle of thanks! Trying to get hold of the content. Will command the content and ask. :)

Merged: Down with banks and insurance companies in Poland

In Poland, in bigger cities, at every corner there is a bank, emails are flooded with banks and insurance companies trying to push some scummy deal down another victim's throat. Once you are in debt in a country like Poland you never recover, there are no opportunities to ear big cash and banks just keep on charging interest. Insurance companies are using scary tactics to draw people in to insure themselves against anyone or anything. To hell with bankers, bank owners and insurance companies!

How is Poland different from another countries in terms of that?

And what is your problem? What should we help you with? I cannot see any question in your post, so I don't understand what was the point of opening this thread.