PKO Bank Polski opens a Czech branch

Watch out, Prague. The biggest Polish bank, PKO Bank Polski, decided to open a branch in the capital of the Czech Republic. The entity, named simply “PKO Bank Polski, Czech Branch”, was founded with corporate clients in mind.

The new foreign branch of PKO Bank Polski will provide services mainly for Czech companies doing business with Polish entities and enterprises from Poland operating on the Czech market. It should be noted that in 2016, Polish exports to the Czech Republic reached the amount of over 12 billion euro. PKO wants to facilitate doing business with the country across Poland’s southern border.

The new financial entity in the Czech Republic will offer opening and maintaining current and deposit accounts, business financing, cashflow management services, and of course bank transactions (including instant wire transfers) and online banking. It was announced that clients will also gain access to certain services of the bank headquarters in Warsaw.

The process of obtaining licence for operating as a financial institution in the Czech Republic from Czech supervisory body started in June 2016 and ended two months later. The bank’s goal is to support Polish business expansion abroad and help in internationalising Polish economy. According to the Management Board, foreign expansion is an important element of the development of the PKO Bank Polski Capital Group.

Czech Branch is not the only foreign outlet of PKO Bank Polski. In December 2015, the financial institution opened its German Branch in Frankfurt am Main, the fifth largest city in Germany. The entity was also opened with corporate clients in mind. The two branches will offer similar offer and assistance services.

PKO Bank Polski, the leader on the banking services market and a household name in Poland, maintains cooperation with banking institutions in such countries as China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. PKO BP Group is also present in Ukraine (as Kredobank) and Sweden (as PKO Leasing Sverige).

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 corporate tax advisory, or contact us for a free consultation.