Special Offers from The Polish Banks to Ukrainians

The Polish banks, taking into account the growing number of refugees from Ukraine, introduced some offers for refugees. In March, the sector was mobilized by the Office of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, which announced that it expected banks to immediately implement the offer for refugees. The offer suggests providing them with access to basic payment services and facilitating the distribution of financial support intended for them. All of the banks simplified the account opening procedure for Ukrainians. In addition:

PKO BP offers them an Account without Borders with a card, and access to the account via the Internet and telephone, which is free for new customers for 12 months. When opening an account as a foreigner, having a residence address in Poland is not required.

The Important Information About The Polish Banks:

Pekao has prepared special solutions for individual and corporate clients from Ukraine who came to Poland. From March 1, it introduced an offer under which account maintenance, cards, ATM withdrawals, and transfers to and from Ukraine are free – this applies to both transactions made by individual and corporate customers. The Polish bank also does not charge any margin or fees for currency exchange in transactions with the card to the account abroad.

Santander Bank Polska does not require proof of the address of residence and obtaining income in Poland. These facilitations apply only to Ukrainian citizens who came to Poland after the outbreak of the war.

ING Bank Śląski has also prepared an offer for refugees from Ukraine.
The refugee account will be available to Ukrainian citizens who came to Poland after February 23, 2022. The bank will offer a debit card and access to online banking. The contract will be concluded in 12 months. The account is of an aid nature, therefore it will have some limitations – it will be kept only in Polish zlotys with a monthly deposit limit. The limit includes the equivalent of PLN 2,000.

From Tuesday, March 29, Ukrainian citizens can open accounts at BNP Paribas Bank more easily. They only need a biometric ID card to confirm their identity. The Polish banks also extend all promotions targeted at Ukrainians until the end of April and continue to help Ukrsibbank employees (a company of the BNP Paribas group in Ukraine) and their families.

Millennium decided to free Ukrainian customers from fees for account maintenance, payment cards, and all ATM withdrawals. The bank states that Ukrainian citizens can count on help and support both in branches and on the hotline.

For several weeks, Alior has been enabling Ukrainian citizens to open an account at its branches and partner outlets at no charge. A Polish visa is not required to open an account in the Polish Banks.

Credit Agricole Bank Polska offers any account to retail clients (Ukrainian citizens). It introduced free withdrawals from ATMs in Poland for these clients and he does not charge for the account card. The Polish banks also simplified the opening of an account for Ukrainian citizens.

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.