Data checked 25 September 2026
Apps like Revolut, N26, Wise and bunq let people in Poland open an account in minutes, but the legal structure behind each one is different. Some hold money as a licensed bank, others as an e-money institution, and the protection that applies to a balance depends on which of these applies, and in which country the licence sits. This guide explains the distinction in general terms and uses the providers in our database as examples, without giving advice on where to keep money.
Bank licence versus e-money licence
Two broad models are used by app-based providers operating in Poland. The first is a full banking licence, issued by a national regulator in an EU or EEA country. A bank licence means the firm can take deposits and is normally part of that country’s deposit guarantee scheme.
The second model is an e-money institution licence. This authorises a firm to issue electronic money and provide payment services, but it does not make the firm a bank and does not bring balances into a deposit guarantee scheme. Instead, e-money rules require customer funds to be kept separately from the firm’s own money, a process usually called safeguarding.
Which model applies is usually stated in the provider’s terms or in a licence and protection summary, as with the examples below.
- Revolut Standard is described as operating through a bank in Lithuania, with deposits protected up to „bank (Lithuania) — deposits protected up to EUR 100,000”
- bunq Free is described as operating through a bank in the Netherlands, with deposits protected up to „bank (Netherlands) — deposits protected up to EUR 100,000”
- N26 Standard is described as operating through a bank in Germany, with deposits protected up to „bank (Germany) — deposits protected up to EUR 100,000”
- Wise Account is described as an e-money institution, with funds safeguarded but no deposit guarantee („e-money institution — funds safeguarded, no deposit guarantee”)
Which country’s guarantee actually applies
When a provider passports a banking licence from another EU country into Poland, the deposit guarantee that applies is the one run by that home country’s scheme, not the Polish Bank Guarantee Fund. This is a normal feature of EU banking rules and does not depend on where the customer lives.
For example, Revolut Standard’s protection is tied to its Lithuanian banking licence, bunq Free’s to its Dutch licence, and N26 Standard’s to its German licence. In each case, a claim in the event of the bank failing would in principle be handled under that country’s scheme and currency arrangements, not under Polish rules.
This is different from keeping money with a bank licensed directly in Poland, where the domestic guarantee scheme and its own statutory limit, currently [TO VERIFY: BFG guarantee limit], would apply instead. Anyone comparing the two should check which scheme actually covers a given account before assuming Polish rules apply.
Savings features held by a partner bank
Some apps offer savings pots,
Questions
Does every app-based account come with a deposit guarantee?
Not automatically. Accounts provided through a licensed bank are normally within a deposit guarantee scheme, while accounts provided through an e-money institution are not, even if the app looks similar. The provider’s terms usually state which model applies.
If a fintech bank is licensed abroad, does Polish deposit protection still apply?
Generally no. Where a provider passports a banking licence from another EU country, the guarantee scheme of that home country applies to deposits, not the Polish scheme, even though the account is used in Poland.
What happens to money in an e-money account if the provider fails?
E-money rules require customer funds to be safeguarded separately from the firm’s own money, but this is not the same as a deposit guarantee. The exact process for returning funds if a firm fails depends on its safeguarding arrangements, so checking the provider’s own terms is the reliable way to understand this.
This page describes products; it is not financial or investment advice. Check the provider’s current terms before opening an account.
