The need to use money is relevant for every person at any time and in any country. And for foreigners arriving in Poland, sooner or later the question of opening a bank account in Poland arises. This is necessary for receiving financial payments from the state, for making online purchases, for receiving a salary in case of employment, etc. Or maybe you have opened your own business and you need a company account? Either way, it is always useful to know how a foreigner can open a bank account in Poland.
We know from our experience that newcomers invariably encounter difficulties when they start to understand this issue. Many people are surprised that in Poland all processes are not as fast as in their home countries and that European countries are very cumbersome in dealing with any “paper” issues.
Who is entitled to open an account in a Polish bank?
Foreigners from different countries have the right to open both individual accounts for personal use and company accounts for their companies in Poland.
And since February 2022, simplified conditions for registration of bank accounts have been introduced for Ukrainian citizens in almost all banks.
Let's put it this way: it will be easier to open an account in a bank in Poland with a Ukrainian passport from February 2022 than to open an account in a bank in Poland, for example, for a Belarusian or a foreigner with a passport of any other country of the former CIS.
Below we will tell you how foreigners can open individual and company accounts, in which banks and on what terms.
Individual and company accounts: differences and peculiarities
Открыть счет для фирмы, разумеется, будет сложнее, нежели счет для физического лица. At least because you will need to provide the bank with additional documents relating to the registration of the company.
It is important to know that each bank has its own criteria and requirements for foreigners when opening accounts. Therefore, if you want to get more favorable conditions for using an account and a simpler procedure for opening an account, you should compare the conditions of several banks and choose the most suitable one for you.
Если Вы испытываете сложности с пониманием и общением на польском языке, не знаете, с чего начать и в какой банк лучше обратиться для открытия счета, специалисты Global documents solution всегда готовы оказать Вам помощь. We will help you not only to open an account in a bank in Poland, but also to draw up related documents: PESEL number, PESEL UKR, propiska, translations, powers of attorney and so on. While our specialists are working, you save your time and nerves, because your documents are prepared by professional lawyers. We know exactly in which banks and under what conditions you will not be refused to open an account, and what package of documents you need to submit to achieve this goal.
To get detailed information and order the services of Global documents solution specialists call us on +48 71 880 83 63 or leave your contacts in the feedback form, after which we will call you back.
Procedure for opening an account in a Polish bank
The procedure of opening an account is standard in every bank: a foreigner comes to a bank branch with a valid passport (if there is a month or two left until the end of the validity period, it will not be possible to open an account in a Polish bank) and a valid phone number of a Polish mobile operator. Also, in addition to the passport, banks may require a PESEL or PESEL UKR number, a rental agreement or residence registration, less often - a work contract or a residence card. At the branch, the foreigner submits an application for opening an account and within 1-2 days the account is opened or denied.
To receive the bank card itself, it is necessary to designate the address to which you can send the plastic by post, or arrange to personally pick up the card from the bank branch.
Many foreigners are interested in whether it is possible to open a bank account in Poland without a pesel? In some banks it is possible, as the obligation to provide this document refers to the individual requirements of each bank: some ask for a pesel and others do not. But let's put it this way: if you have a valid passport and a PESEL number, the probability of refusal to open an account will be practically zero. If you have only one passport, there is a high chance that you will be refused.
And also many people ask whether it is possible to open a Polish bank account online without having to visit a bank branch in person. In Ukraine, for example, it is very easy to open an account remotely. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to open an account in a Polish bank remotely. For Polish citizens this service is available, but for foreigners it is most often not, as no bank offers to open an account in a Polish bank online.
It is also important to know that banks are quicker and more willing to open accounts for visitors who are residents of Poland. Residents are persons who pay taxes to the Polish budget (employed or those who have opened a business and develop it in Poland). Then how can a non-resident open an account in a Polish bank? Answer: the procedure for opening an account for a resident and a non-resident is identical, only the non-resident's documents and the circumstances under which he/she needs a bank account will be checked more thoroughly by the bank's security service.
As for opening company accounts for companies (and individual entrepreneurs), the KRS extract with basic information about the company, the memorandum of association signed by all board members, the PESEL numbers of the founders and their cell phone numbers must be added to the passports of the company founders. If the account is opened for an individual entrepreneur, it is registered to him directly, and if the account is opened for a company (spółka), the account is registered to one of the beneficiaries.
Which Polish bank should I choose to open an account?
Now more specifically about Polish banks: in which bank should I open an account in Poland?
The largest bank by number of branches in Poland is Millennium Bank. The scale of this bank is similar to the Ukrainian Privatbank: they also have many branches in every city, even the smallest.
To open an individual account with this bank in Poland, a passport is sufficient. Having a PESEL number will be a plus. To open a company account with Millennium, you will need to add documents confirming company registration.
Another popular bank in Poland is Pekao.
To open an account, an individual must provide a passport and a PESEL number. To open a company account, we add documents related to company registration. Almost the same requirements in Santander Bank.
Bank BNP Paribas: for Ukrainians - passport plus PESEL number (you can also use Ukrainian TIN); for other foreigners - passport, PESEL, propiska; for company account - add documents for the company.
Alior Bank, for example, has very simple conditions for opening both individual and company accounts: only a passport is sufficient.
The biggest requirements in ING bank: to open an account in this bank in Poland, in addition to a passport and PESEL, foreigners are often required to have a residence card, a work contract and a rental agreement (propiska).
