Key Polish phrases for banking
| Polish phrase | Pronunciation | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Chcę otworzyć konto | Htseh ot-VOH-zhitch KON-toh | "I want to open an account" |
| Konto osobiste | KON-toh oh-soh-BEES-teh | Personal current account |
| Mam numer PESEL | Mam NOO-mer PEH-sel | "I have a PESEL number" — say this when asked |
| Chcę zrobić przelew | Htseh ZROH-beetch PSHEH-lef | "I want to make a bank transfer" |
| Numer konta | NOO-mer KON-tah | Account number |
| Wyciąg z konta | VYH-chong z KON-tah | Bank statement — needed for visa applications |
| Karta debetowa | KAR-tah deh-beh-TOH-vah | Debit card |
| Zgubiona karta | zgoo-BYOH-nah KAR-tah | "Lost card" — say if you've lost your card |
| Zablokuj kartę | zah-BLOH-kooy KAR-teh | "Block the card" — ask to freeze a stolen card |
| Jakie są opłaty? | YAH-kyeh son oh-PWAH-tih? | "What are the fees?" — ask before signing |
| Polish word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Wypłata gotówki | VY-pwah-tah goh-TOOF-kee | Cash withdrawal |
| Sprawdź saldo | Spravdj SAL-doh | Check balance |
| Potwierdź | Pot-VYERDJ | Confirm / OK |
| Anuluj | ah-NOO-looy | Cancel |
What you need to open an account
- Paszport (PASH-port) — passport — mandatory at all banks
- Numer PESEL (NOO-mer PEH-sel) — most major banks require it. Get PESEL first.
- Adres w Polsce (AH-dres v POL-stseh) — Polish address, even temporary is fine
- Polski numer telefonu (POL-skee NOO-mer teh-leh-FOH-noo) — Polish phone number for SMS verification
Best banks for Indians in Poland
PKO Bank Polski — most branches, most reliable
Largest Polish bank. English app available. Free account for employees. pkobp.pl →
mBank — best mobile app
Fully online account opening, no branch visit needed. Excellent English app. mbank.pl →
Santander Bank Polska
Many Indian IT companies pay salaries via Santander. Good English support. santander.pl →
Revolut — best for transfers to India
Not a Polish bank but hugely popular. Open in 10 minutes with passport only (no PESEL needed). Best PLN → INR exchange rates. Use as a secondary account. revolut.com →
Sending money to India (PLN → INR)
Wise — best rates
Mid-market exchange rate, ~0.5–1% fee. Transfers in 1–2 business days. Most popular choice. wise.com →
Revolut — very close to Wise
Slightly worse rates on weekends. Free plan has monthly limits. Good for regular smaller transfers.
Western Union / MoneyGram — avoid if possible
Available at Poczta Polska (POCH-tah POL-skah = Polish Post Office). Rates 3–5% worse than Wise. Use only if recipient needs cash in hand in India.
BLIK — Poland's mobile payment system
BLIK (bleek) is Poland's instant mobile payment system — you will use it constantly:
- Generate a 6-digit code in your banking app → enter at any ATM (bankomat / bahn-KOH-mat) or checkout
- Cash withdrawal at ATMs without your physical card
- Send money to a Polish phone number instantly — przelew na telefon (PSHEH-lef nah TEH-leh-fon)
- Accepted at virtually all Polish shops and restaurants
📅 Last updated: June 2025. If you notice outdated information, please use the suggest button.