The short answer for expats in Poland
The short answer
The best bank account for most expats in Poland is mBank's eKonto — 0 zł per month, a real Polish IBAN, BLIK and a fully English app. ING Bank Śląski is the best traditional bank for English speakers (0 zł Konto Direct). PKO BP wins on reach, with Poland's largest branch and ATM network. Until your PESEL is issued, open Revolut with just your passport — it works from day one, though it gives you a Lithuanian IBAN for złoty, so add a Polish bank once you can.
Poland runs on złoty (PLN), not euros — so you genuinely need a local account: employers pay salaries in PLN, landlords want a Polish IBAN, and everyday life runs through BLIK, the phone-number payment system every local bank supports. The good news: Polish banking is cheap and digital — several major banks charge 0 zł for a full current account. The main friction is not price, it's the PESEL, the Polish ID number that online account opening is built around. This guide compares the five accounts expats actually open — mBank, ING Bank Śląski, PKO BP, Santander Bank Polska and Revolut — on fees, opening rules and English support.
→ How to open a bank account in Europe as an expat — the general playbook
Expert-Score comparison: 5 accounts for expats in Poland
| Account | Monthly fee | IBAN | PESEL needed to open online | English support | BLIK | Expert Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mBank (eKonto) | 0 zł | Polish (PL) | Yes | Full — app, site, helpline | Yes | 9.2/10 |
| ING Bank Śląski (Konto Direct) | 0 zł | Polish (PL) | Yes | Very good — app + helpline | Yes | 8.9/10 |
| PKO BP (Konto za Zero) | 0 zł | Polish (PL) | Yes — branch may help you get one | Limited to moderate | Yes | 8.6/10 |
| Santander Bank Polska (Konto Santander) | 0 zł account; card free with conditions | Polish (PL) | Yes — branch case-by-case | Partial — app + bigger branches | Yes | 8.4/10 |
| Revolut (Standard) | 0 zł | Lithuanian (LT) for PLN | No — passport only | Full | Yes | 8.1/10 |
Scores are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team, weighted for expats in Poland: monthly cost (25%), Polish IBAN (20%), ease of opening (20%), English support (20%), cash/ATM and transfers (15%). Fees are illustrative figures from October 2026 comparisons — always verify with the provider.
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Open the day-one winners in minutes
No PESEL and no Polish paperwork needed — start these today:
Open Revolut Account → Open Wise Account → Open bunq Account →
1. mBank — the best all-round account for expats
mBank eKonto
mBank is Poland's digital-first pioneer and the account expats recommend most. The eKonto costs 0 zł per month with no salary requirement, PLN transfers are free, and SEPA transfers cost nothing or close to it. What sets it apart is language: the app, website and phone support are fully available in English — rare among Polish banks.
You get everything daily Polish life requires: BLIK, contactless payments, and free withdrawals at mBank and partner ATMs. For expats paid partly in euros, mBank offers currency accounts in EUR, USD and CHF next to the złoty account, plus a multi-currency card option.
The one hurdle: online opening requires a PESEL — the verification flow is built around Polish ID data. Without one, some branches open accounts on a passport in person, case-by-case. The standard sequence works well: Revolut on day one, mBank the week your PESEL lands.
2. ING Bank Śląski — the traditional bank that speaks English
ING Konto Direct / Moje ING
ING Bank Śląski is the Polish arm of the Dutch ING group, and it shows: the Moje ING app is one of the best-regarded in Poland, and English support — app, online banking and an English-speaking helpline — is genuinely strong. The flagship Konto Direct costs 0 zł per month, with free SEPA transfers for expats moving money between Poland and the eurozone.
Like mBank, ING's online opening is built for residents with a PESEL; branch opening is the route for everyone else. Its physical network is smaller than PKO's and concentrated in larger cities — no real limitation when almost everything happens in the app. Currency accounts, savings and a mortgage process that settled foreigners regularly use round out the package.
→ Best bank accounts in Germany for expats — the neighbouring-country comparison
3. PKO BP — Poland's biggest bank and biggest network
PKO BP Konto za Zero
PKO Bank Polski is Poland's largest bank by a wide margin — if your life takes you to smaller towns, a PKO branch or ATM is the one you will find. The Konto za Zero charges 0 zł for account keeping; debit-card fees depend on how you use the card, so read the current fee table before assuming the card is free too.
PKO has one unusual advantage for newcomers: expat guides consistently report that some branches onboard foreigners in person and can even help you apply for a PESEL during the same visit — not guaranteed, but worth asking at a large city branch if paperwork is your bottleneck.
The trade-off is language. The IKO app is capable and BLIK is fully supported, but English support is the weakest of the five banks here. Treat PKO as the reach-and-reliability choice rather than the expat-experience choice.
4. Santander Bank Polska — solid, with a card-fee condition to know
Santander Konto Santander
Santander Bank Polska — the former Bank Zachodni WBK — is a mainstream, modern bank with a good app and a wide branch network. Its personal account carries no monthly account fee; the detail to understand is the debit card: per Santander's official fee-information document, the card is free if your card and BLIK payments total at least 300 zł in the month — easy for anyone living in Poland — and 9 zł in months you don't reach it.
English support is partial: the app works in English and larger city branches can usually help, but it's a step behind mBank and ING. Online opening follows the usual PESEL pattern; branches decide passport-only applications case-by-case. One ownership note: the bank has a new majority owner, Austria's Erste Group, and a rebrand has been announced — your account, IBAN and terms continue as normal.
5. Revolut — the day-one bridge (mind the IBAN)
Revolut Standard
Revolut is the only option here you can open before you land, with just a passport — no PESEL, no Polish address, no branch. You get a working złoty account in minutes, a card for your first days, cheap conversion between PLN and your home currency, and even BLIK support.
The caveat is the IBAN: Revolut's PLN accounts carry a Lithuanian (LT) IBAN, not a Polish one. Most private employers and landlords accept it — but some public-sector employers, universities and conservative companies explicitly require a PL IBAN for salary. Ask your HR department before relying on Revolut alone. Note too the free plan's ATM allowance (about €200/month free, then a fee) and weekend FX markup.
→ Best money transfer services in Europe — moving money to and from Poland cheaply
Scenario framework: which setup fits you?
- Arriving this month, no PESEL yet. Open Revolut (and Wise for transfers) from home. Register your address, apply for a PESEL in week one, then open mBank.
- Employed by a Polish company. Salary needs a Polish IBAN in practice — mBank or ING as the main account; Revolut/Wise for currency.
- Remote worker paid in EUR or USD. Receive into Wise or a Polish bank's currency account, convert in tranches, hold daily money in a 0 zł PLN account. See our multi-currency account guide.
- Outside the big cities. PKO BP's network is the safety net — pair it with Revolut for international needs.
How we compared: the methodology
How we compared
Fees and features checked: provider price lists and fee-information documents (including Santander's official fee document), published account conditions, plus October 2026 expat comparisons from expatessentials.pl, howtopoland.com and legalsol.pl. Criteria and weights: monthly cost (25%), Polish IBAN (20%), ease of opening (20%), English support (20%), ATM/cash and transfers (15%). Scores are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — not financial advice. Worked examples are illustrative figures; always verify fees with the provider.
Practical tips: PESEL, BLIK and deposit protection
- PESEL first: Poland's personal ID number, issued free at the municipal office (urząd) when you register your address (zameldowanie) for 30+ days, or via an application with a legal basis such as employment. It unlocks online opening everywhere.
- No PESEL yet? Branches of mBank, Santander and others sometimes open accounts on a passport alone — case-by-case. Call the helpline before you queue.
- The legal fallback: banks must offer a basic payment account (podstawowy rachunek płatniczy) to residents who hold no other Polish account. If a bank refuses you entirely, ask for it by name.
- BLIK is essential: six-digit codes from your bank's app pay online, in shops and person-to-person by phone number. Every bank here supports it — including Revolut since 2025.
- Deposit protection: deposits at Polish-licensed banks are guaranteed by the Bankowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny (BFG) up to the złoty equivalent of €100,000 per depositor per bank. EU fintechs sit under their home schemes instead.
- EUR accounts: mBank, ING and PKO all offer EUR currency accounts next to your PLN account, with free SEPA transfers.
→ Cost of living in Europe for expats — how Poland compares
What to watch in 2027
Polish banks publish revised fee tables most Januaries — re-check your tariff at the new year, especially card-fee conditions like Santander's 300 zł threshold. The Santander → Erste rebrand will roll through branches and apps; terms continue, but expect new names and paperwork. If Revolut finally issues Polish IBANs, we will update this guide's scores.
Get the top-scoring accounts
Free plans, no PESEL needed to start:
Open Revolut Account → Open Wise Account → Open bunq Account →
Poland banking FAQ
What is the best bank account for expats in Poland?
mBank's eKonto is the best all-round choice: 0 zł per month, a Polish IBAN, BLIK and full English throughout. ING is the strongest traditional alternative, PKO BP wins on branch reach, and Revolut is the best stopgap before your PESEL arrives.
Do I need a PESEL number to open a bank account in Poland?
For online opening at a Polish bank, yes — verification flows are built around a PESEL. Without one, branches of banks such as mBank and Santander sometimes open accounts on a passport alone, case-by-case, and Revolut or Wise need no PESEL at all.
Can I open a Polish bank account before I arrive?
Generally no — local banks want a PESEL and in-person or Polish-video verification. From abroad you can open Revolut or Wise with just a passport for arrival day; then open mBank or ING in your first weeks.
Which Polish bank has the best English support?
mBank has the best English support: app, website, account opening and helpline all work fully in English. ING is a close second. Santander offers partial support, and PKO BP's is the most limited of the big banks.
Is a Revolut account enough for a Polish salary?
Not always — Revolut gives złoty accounts a Lithuanian IBAN, and while SEPA rules say it must be accepted, some public-sector employers and universities require a Polish IBAN for payroll. If in doubt, receive salary into mBank, ING or PKO.
What is BLIK and do I need it?
BLIK is Poland's instant payment system — a six-digit code from your bank's app that pays online, in stores and between people by phone number. Yes, you need it: it is how Poland pays, and every bank here supports it.
Can I hold euros in a Polish bank account?
Yes — mBank, ING and PKO BP all offer EUR currency accounts alongside your złoty account, with free or near-free SEPA transfers. Your everyday account stays in PLN; the EUR account is for savings, rent deposits and euro income.
Is my money protected in a Polish bank?
Yes — deposits at Polish-licensed banks are guaranteed by the Bankowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny (BFG) up to the złoty equivalent of €100,000 per depositor per bank. Providers licensed elsewhere in the EU are covered by their home scheme instead.