The Polish Bank Association attend to the cybersecurity of bank services

Proper safeguarding of money assets in bank account requires more and more attention and caution. The Polish Bank Association decided to publish a special “Cybersecure wallet” guide on bank services security. In 2015, the Internal Security Agency noted an increase of fraud threats in cyberspace, such as phishing, of as much as 116%. According the Polish Bank Association data, in the third quarter of 2016 the total amount of loans that were attempted to obtain illegally was 64 million 829 thousand 324 PLN.

Specialists stress that a lot of problems arises from very insignificant cases of neglect of account holders, such as keeping the PIN together with the card, using the same password for various systems and services, and also delaying reporting lost cards. The reason behind many of them is also revealing the card and the PIN to third parties. A huge threat is the more and more common redirection to fake bank websites (pharming) and encouraging to visit a fake internet site (phishing). You should also remember about the risk of cloning the cards scanned at cash machines.

Reporting your cards lost as quickly as possible is very important. Just as reporting the fact of losing documents to the police, as in the era of online services the more and more common practice is for example taking up loans based on stolen documents, which can be done without leaving home. In Poland, there is an open database of all documents that have been reported lost. The database is also used by banks, mobile operators and such entities as financial intermediaries or settlement agencies. Losing traditional documents is closely linked to cyberthreats, so submitting information about lost documents as quickly as possible is a way of preventing people from ordering services with someone else’s documents.

You should remember that using online banking really requires a lot of caution. Specialists warn that you should never give anyone your data for logging in to online banking and do not visit your bank’s website through links appearing in the received email messages and do no use search engines to find logging in sites. An important element of attention to security is also antivirus software and using only the trusted wireless networks and computers.

Implications for Banking and Business

Developments in the Polish banking sector affect businesses operating in the country in several ways. Access to corporate banking services, credit availability, deposit rates, and payment infrastructure are all critical factors for companies — whether established Polish firms or foreign-owned entities entering the market.

For foreign entrepreneurs setting up operations in Poland, choosing the right banking partner is a strategic decision. Major Polish banks including mBank, ING Bank Śląski, Bank Millennium, PKO BP, and Santander Poland offer varying levels of service for international clients, including English-language online banking, multicurrency accounts, and dedicated relationship managers for corporate clients.

The Polish banking market is well-regulated by the KNF (Financial Supervision Authority) and participates in the EU deposit guarantee scheme (BFG — Bank Guarantee Fund), providing deposit protection up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per institution. This regulatory framework provides stability and confidence for businesses maintaining corporate funds in Polish banks.

If you are doing business in Poland or considering entering the Polish market, Zalewski Consulting can help. Learn more about our bank account opening services, or contact us for a free consultation.