Best Bank Accounts in Poland for Foreigners (October 2026)

Data checked: 6 October 2026

Moving to Poland for a job, a degree or a few months of remote work usually means one early errand: getting a Polish bank account. Your employer wants an account number for salary, your landlord wants rent by transfer, and half of Polish e-commerce expects you to pay with BLIK. The question everyone asks first is the same – can I open one as a foreigner, and do I need a PESEL?

This page is written for five groups of readers: expats on a work contract, international students, workers from Ukraine (with or without temporary protection status), digital nomads staying a few months, and non-residents who live abroad but need a Polish account. It compares what ten Polish banks and three fintechs say on their own websites about foreign customers – documents, PESEL, online or branch opening, English-language service, BLIK and basic fees.

Two honest caveats before the table. First, banks publish surprisingly little about foreign customers, and some of it sits in FAQ pages or refugee offers from 2022. Where a bank’s site does not say something, we write “not stated on the bank’s site (verify in branch)” instead of guessing. Second, every bank runs its own customer due-diligence (KYC) procedure, and the final decision is made case by case. Nothing here is individual advice or a promise that an account will be opened.

Quick comparison

All rows checked on official bank pages on 6 October 2026. “Not stated” means we did not find it on the page listed, not that the service does not exist.

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Poland?

Yes. Polish banks open accounts for foreign nationals every day, and several of them say so directly. Credit Agricole’s FAQ answers the question “I am a foreigner – can I open an account?” with “Yes”, as long as you come to a branch with an accepted document. Nest Bank writes that “a foreigner can open a personal account in Poland”. Bank Pekao runs an International Clients Office that coordinates opening accounts “for residents and non-residents”.

What changes is the route and the paperwork, not the principle:

• Remote opening is usually reserved for Polish ID card holders. Alior Bank states that only customers with a Polish ID card can open an account online; Bank Millennium says that without Polish citizenship you can open an account only in a branch; ING’s online guide assumes an adult Polish citizen with a Polish ID card (not a passport) and a PESEL. Erste Bank Polska (the former Santander Bank Polska) tells EU citizens they can open an account only in a branch.
• Ukrainian citizens have dedicated routes. Since 2022 many banks have run simplified offers – mBank’s eKonto UA, BNP Paribas’ “Konto na Teraz”, ING’s refugee account, Alior’s basic payment account, Pekao’s “Konto Pomocne”, Credit Agricole’s offer accepting a Ukrainian ID card issued after 2016. Some of these are time-limited (BNP Paribas: up to 12 months, then the account closes automatically), so check whether a given offer is still open.
• Non-residents are the hardest case. A bank can open an account for someone who does not live in Poland, but it will usually want to understand why: tax residency, the purpose of the account, the source of funds. Pekao is the only bank in our sample that explicitly mentions non-residents on its personal-client facing pages; for everyone else, ask in a branch.

The legal background is simple: no Polish statute says “no PESEL, no bank account”. In practice, though, each bank’s anti-money-laundering procedures decide which documents it accepts, and a branch employee can ask for more than the website lists.

Documents you need (and whether you need a PESEL)

Across the banks we checked, the document set falls into three layers.

1. Proof of identity – always required. For non-Polish citizens this is normally a foreign passport. mBank lists a foreign passport, a Polish travel document for a foreigner, or a Geneva Convention travel document – one of these is enough. EU citizens can often use a national ID card instead (Erste, Nest Bank, Alior per their own pages). Several banks also accept a Polish residence card (karta pobytu) as an identity document, and Ukrainian ID cards for the Ukraine-specific offers.

2. Proof of legal stay or a link to Poland – often required. mBank may ask for a document confirming your right to stay, such as an EU citizen residence registration certificate, a residence card or a permanent residence card. ING’s materials for foreigners mention a passport plus a document confirming legal stay (visa, residence card, permit) and, for the standard offer, documents confirming residence and income. Erste asks EU citizens for either a residence card with PESEL or an alternative such as a work confirmation, a study document or proof of property ownership, plus a declaration of tax identification number (TIN). Nest Bank lists a residence card and a Polish address.

3. PESEL – helpful, sometimes required, not universal. PESEL is the Polish personal identification number. Whether a bank needs it depends on the product and the route:

• PKO Bank Polski lists PESEL among the data you prepare to open a standard account.
• BNP Paribas requires it for “Konto na Teraz”.
• mBank asks for an extra document (such as a PESEL assignment confirmation) only if your ID lacks a PESEL or address.
• Erste treats a residence card with PESEL as one of several acceptable supporting documents.
• Nest Bank, Erste and Alior mention that your PESEL must not be blocked (“zastrzeżony”) while you apply – relevant if you already have one and reserved it in mObywatel.

So “can I open a bank account in Poland without a PESEL?” has an honest answer: at some banks, for some products, in a branch – yes, but confirm it with the bank before you go. If you are staying long term, getting a PESEL first tends to make everything smoother, including online banking login, mobile app activation and later products such as loans.

Also bring: a phone number that can receive SMS (a Polish number is easier), your address in Poland, and, if you are tax resident elsewhere, your foreign tax identification number. PKO mentions a TIN for taxpayers of other countries; mBank’s business regulations ask non-residents for a tax residency certificate.

Opening online vs in a branch

Polish banks are known for fast online opening – a selfie with your ID in the app, a transfer from another bank, or confirmation through the government mObywatel app. The catch for foreigners is that these remote methods are built around the Polish ID card.

• Online usually works for: Polish ID card holders; Ukrainian citizens using offers built for them (mBank states eKonto UA can be opened online and the card is sent by post); customers of fintechs that verify a passport in the app (Revolut, Wise, N26).
• Branch is usually required for: non-Polish citizens at Bank Millennium, foreigners without a Polish ID at Alior, EU citizens at Erste, passport or EU-ID applicants at Nest Bank, and anyone at Credit Agricole (which also says video consultations are temporarily switched off).
• PKO Bank Polski offers three routes – IKO app with a selfie, a branch, or by phone with a courier – but its page does not say which of them are available to foreigners.

A branch visit is not a bad thing. It is where non-standard documents are checked, where you can ask whether the branch staff speak English, and where you can sort out the mobile app login before you leave. Book an appointment if the bank allows it, and bring originals, not copies.

Best options by situation

There is no single best bank in Poland for foreigners – it depends on what you need the account for. Here is how we would narrow it down, based only on what the banks publish.

Expat on a Polish employment contract. You will want a full Polish current account with BLIK, a debit card and a free or conditionally free plan. Look at banks with a published 0 PLN account (Alior, Nest Bank, Millennium 360°) and check the card condition – usually a minimum number of card or BLIK payments each month. Our free personal accounts ranking explains what “0 PLN” really depends on. If you plan to keep savings in PLN, see the best savings accounts and deposits.

International student. Many banks have youth pricing (Millennium, for example, needs only one payment a month for free card and BLIK if you are 18–26). Our student and young adult accounts ranking compares them. Expect a branch visit for the first account if you do not hold a Polish ID card.

Worker from Ukraine. Start by checking the Ukraine-specific offers: mBank eKonto UA, BNP Paribas Konto na Teraz, ING’s refugee account, Alior’s basic payment account, Pekao, Credit Agricole (Ukrainian helpline +48 71 799 71 14). Some are time-limited or have reduced functionality, so once you have a PESEL and residence card it can be worth moving to a standard account.

Digital nomad or short stay. A fintech account may cover card payments and currency exchange while you are here. Compare them in our fintechs and mobile banks in Poland and debit cards for paying abroad pages. If a Polish client or landlord needs a Polish account number, check the fintech’s current offer first – Wise, for instance, has temporarily stopped issuing new PLN account details.

Freelancer or sole trader (JDG). A business account is a separate product with its own rules. See our best business account for freelancers.

Opening for a bonus. Several banks pay sign-up bonuses (Millennium advertises up to 700 PLN on Konto 360°), but conditions often include regular income and spending. Our sign-up bonuses ranking tracks them monthly; check whether the bonus terms apply to customers opening in a branch with a passport.

Non-resident. Ask the bank directly before travelling. Pekao’s International Clients Office is the clearest published contact point (first contact in English, German, Italian and Russian).

Polish bank vs Revolut, Wise or N26

Many foreigners arrive with a fintech account already on their phone. It can be enough for the first weeks, but it is not identical to a Polish bank account.

Revolut is the closest to a local account. According to Revolut’s Polish help pages, customers with an address registered in Poland get a Polish account number for incoming PLN transfers, and BLIK is available if you were verified with a valid national ID, passport or residence permit from a European country. That combination – PLN account number plus BLIK – covers most daily needs. Check the current plan fees in the app.

Wise is built for multi-currency transfers and holding balances. It is not a bank account, and Wise’s help centre currently states that new users cannot get PLN account details “for the time being”; existing users keep theirs. So Wise alone may not give you a Polish account number for salary or rent today.

N26 lists Poland among the countries where residents can open an account. N26 accounts are euro accounts, so check in the app how PLN payments and conversions work for you. Its pages we checked did not mention BLIK.

Where a Polish bank still helps: some employers, landlords, utilities and offices prefer a Polish bank account number; Polish banks give you access to local loans, mortgages and deposits; and a Polish bank account can be used to confirm identity in some Polish online services (bank login as “profil zaufany” / identity confirmation). Many people use both – a Polish bank for salary and bills, a fintech for travel and currencies.

Fees to watch

“0 PLN account” in Poland rarely means “0 PLN for everything”. When comparing, check:

• Account maintenance. Alior and Millennium 360° state 0 PLN without conditions; Nest Bank states no conditions for services marked free; Erste charges 6 PLN unless you pay at least 300 PLN a month by card or BLIK.
• Debit card fee. Often the real cost: 7 PLN at Alior and 11 PLN at Millennium (for 26+) if you miss the monthly payment count; 9 PLN at Erste unless you meet the 300 PLN spend condition.
• Instant transfers. BNP Paribas’ Konto na Teraz includes three free instant PLN transfers a month, then 6 PLN each.
• ATM withdrawals – own network vs other ATMs, and abroad.
• Currency conversion on card payments outside Poland – see our cards for paying abroad.
• Incoming foreign transfers (SWIFT/SEPA) if your income arrives from abroad.
• Paper statements and branch transactions, which are often priced separately from app transactions.

Always check the bank’s current fee table (tabela opłat i prowizji) before signing – fees change, and branch staff can confirm which plan you are being offered.

Step by step: how to open a bank account in Poland as a foreigner

1. Decide what the account is for – salary, rent, studies, savings, business. It decides whether a fintech is enough or you need a Polish bank.
2. Check your documents: passport (or EU ID card), residence card or other proof of legal stay, PESEL if you have one, address in Poland, phone number, foreign TIN if you are tax resident abroad.
3. Pick two or three banks from the table above and read their current page for foreigners or for your specific situation (student, Ukraine offer).
4. Ask before you go. Call the English or Ukrainian line if the bank has one (Credit Agricole: 801 70 09 00 in English) and ask which documents the branch accepts and whether PESEL is required for the product you want.
5. Visit the branch with originals. Ask for the agreement, the fee table and the card conditions in English if available.
6. Set up the app on the spot. Make sure you can log in, receive SMS codes and activate BLIK before leaving.
7. Update your details later. When you get a PESEL or a new residence card, register it with the bank – Millennium, for example, says passport details are updated only in a branch.

FAQ

Can I open a bank account in Poland without a PESEL?

At some banks and for some products, yes – mBank, for example, accepts a foreign passport as ID and asks for extra documents only if your ID lacks a PESEL or address. Other products (such as BNP Paribas’ Konto na Teraz) require it. There is no single rule; ask the bank first.

Can I open a Polish bank account online as a foreigner?

Usually not at traditional banks. Alior, Millennium and Erste limit remote opening to Polish ID card holders or Polish citizens, or require EU citizens to visit a branch. Exceptions exist for Ukraine-specific offers (mBank eKonto UA) and for fintechs.

Which Polish banks have English-language service?

Pekao’s International Clients Office offers first contact in English; Credit Agricole has an English phone line; Millennium, PKO and Alior have English websites. App language support was not consistently stated on the pages we checked – ask before opening.

Is there a bank for Ukrainian citizens in Poland?

Several banks run Ukraine-specific accounts, including mBank (eKonto UA), BNP Paribas (Konto na Teraz), ING, Alior, Pekao and Credit Agricole, which also has a Ukrainian-language helpline.

Can a non-resident open a bank account in Poland?

It is possible but less standardised. Pekao explicitly mentions non-residents. Expect questions about tax residency and the purpose of the account.

What documents do international students need?

A passport, a document confirming legal stay (visa or residence card) and often confirmation of studies or an address in Poland. Erste lists education documents among acceptable supporting documents for EU citizens.

Do I need a Polish phone number?

Not always stated, but SMS codes and app activation are much easier with one. ING’s online route lists a Polish phone number as a requirement.

Can I use BLIK with Revolut?

According to Revolut’s help pages, yes, if you were verified with a valid European national ID, passport or residence permit. BLIK works only with merchants and ATMs in Poland.

Is Wise enough for receiving salary in Poland?

Wise currently does not issue new PLN account details, so check its status before giving an account number to your employer.

What happened to Santander Bank Polska?

It now operates as Erste Bank Polska. Its accounts have been renamed (Konto Santander is now Konto Smart), and the bank says the santander.pl address will eventually stop working.

Sources

All pages accessed on 6 October 2026.

• mBank – documents accepted to confirm identity: https://www.mbank.pl/indywidualny/uslugi/uslugi/tozsamosc/dokumenty/
• mBank – eKonto osobiste UA: https://www.mbank.pl/indywidualny/konta/konta-osobiste/konta-ua/ (via official search listing)
• PKO Bank Polski – How to open a personal account: https://www.pkobp.pl/en/how-to-open-a-personal-account
• Bank Pekao – Offer for international clients: https://www.pekao.com.pl/en/offer-for-international-clients.html
• Erste Bank Polska – Konto Smart (formerly Konto Santander): https://www.erste.pl/klient-indywidualny/konta/konto-smart
• ING Bank Śląski – How to open a bank account: https://www.ing.pl/wiem/bankowosc-codzienna/jak-zalozyc-konto-w-banku
• ING Bank Śląski – Account for refugees from Ukraine: https://www.ing.pl/o-banku/ukraina/konto-dla-obywateli-ukrainy (via official search listing)
• Bank Millennium – Konto 360°: https://www.bankmillennium.pl/en/individuals/current-accounts/konto-360
• BNP Paribas – Konto na Teraz: https://www.bnpparibas.pl/klienci-indywidualni/konta/konto-z-karta-na-12-miesiecy
• Alior Bank – Alior Konto: https://www.aliorbank.pl/klienci-indywidualni/konta-osobiste/alior-konto.html
• Credit Agricole – “I am a foreigner, can I open an account?”: https://www.credit-agricole.pl/pytania-i-odpowiedzi/konto/jestem-cudzoziemcem-czy-moge-otworzyc-konto-w-banku-credit-agricole
• Nest Bank – Nest Konto: https://nestbank.pl/nest-konto/
• Revolut – What is BLIK and how can I use it: https://help.revolut.com/en-PL/help/card-payments-withdrawals/blik/what-is-blik-and-how-can-i-use-it/
• Revolut – What currency account details are available for me: https://help.revolut.com/en-PL/help/transfers/inbound-transfers/how-to-receive-money-from-another-bank/what-account-details-should-i-use-to-transfer-money-to-my-revolut-account/what-account-details-are-available-for-me/
• Wise – How do I receive money with my PLN account details: https://wise.com/help/articles/2977948/how-do-i-receive-money-with-my-pln-account-details
• N26 – Can I open an N26 account in my country: https://support.n26.com/en-eu/account-and-personal-details/opening-an-account/can-i-open-an-n26-account-in-my-country

Data checked: 6 October 2026. Bank offers, document lists and fees change. This page describes what banks publish; it is not financial or legal advice, and the bank makes the final decision on every application.