The short answer
ExpatMoneyEU verdict: Default pick: mBank — the stronger digital-first settled account, with a modern app and full BLIK life. Fallback: ING Bank Śląski — if you want branches you can walk into and a big-bank feel behind the same free-with-conditions deal.
Poland's two biggest digital-friendly banks look similar on paper — both offer Polish IBANs, BLIK and free-with-conditions accounts — but they suit different expats. This page compares them head to head on the criteria that actually matter to newcomers: opening without a PESEL, English support, fees, ATMs, branches and app quality. Figures are the standard-plan headlines at the time of writing and change regularly — always verify the current price list before applying.
Key fact: Bank deposits in the EU are protected up to €100,000 per depositor per bank under the EU Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive (2014/49/EU). Both banks below are licensed Polish banks covered by the Polish Bank Guarantee Fund (BFG).
→ Best Bank Accounts in Poland for Expats — November 2026 Guide
Quick comparison table
| Feature | mBank | ING Bank Śląski |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 with conditions (card activity / incoming transfer) | €0 with conditions (card activity / incoming transfer) |
| IBAN | Polish (PL) | Polish (PL) |
| BLIK | Yes | Yes |
| Branches | Few, mostly digital | Yes — broad branch network |
| English support | Partial | Partial |
| Opening | Online, PESEL + Polish address usually required | Branch or online, PESEL + address required |
| Best for | Digital-first settled expats | Expats who want branches |
Fees are the providers' standard-plan headlines at the time of writing and change regularly — always verify the current price list before applying.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links below may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you — see our affiliate disclosure. Scores are editorial, never ranked by commission.
Ready to open an account? These are our top picks — free to open, no monthly fee on the standard plans:
Open Wise Account →Open Revolut Account →Open N26 Account →Expert Score: how the two accounts rate
We scored each account from 0 to 10 on the six criteria below, using only the facts stated on this page. Scores are editorial, never ranked by commission.
| Account | Monthly fee | Polish IBAN | English support | ATM & branches | App & BLIK | Deposit protection | Expert Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mBank | 8 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8.3 |
| ING Bank Śląski | 8 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 8.7 |
Scores by ExpatMoneyEU Research Team from the criteria above — not influenced by commissions.
1. mBank — mBank
mBank
mBank is Poland's leading online bank: a genuine Polish IBAN, BLIK, a modern app and savings and loans behind it, all under Polish deposit protection. For settled expats it is the most complete digital banking life in Poland — salary, BLIK payments, savings goals and cards in one app.
The catch is onboarding and language: you generally need a PESEL number, a Polish address and a fuller ID check, and much of the process leans Polish rather than English. Branches are few, so if you need in-person service this is the wrong pick.
→ Best Bank Accounts in Poland for Expats — November 2026 Guide
2. ING Bank Śląski — ING Bank Śląski
ING Bank Śląski
ING Bank Śląski is one of Poland's largest banks and the reliable branch-backed choice: a genuine Polish IBAN, BLIK, a broad branch network and a full product range. If you prefer a bank you can walk into — for cash, documents or a mortgage conversation — ING is the stronger settled pick.
The catch mirrors mBank's: you need a PESEL number, a Polish address and usually a fuller ID check, and English support is partial rather than full. The app is good but less digital-first than mBank's.
→ Best Bank Accounts in Poland for Expats — November 2026 Guide
Scenario framework: which one fits you?
- Digital-first professional. Choose mBank — the app-first life suits you, and you rarely need a branch.
- Branch lover or cash user. Choose ING — branches, cash handling and in-person help beat a slicker app.
- New arrival without a PESEL. Neither yet — open Wise or Revolut first, then add mBank or ING once registered.
- Freelancer. Either works as your Polish account; pair it with Wise for client payments abroad and check your monthly net with our Poland B2B freelancer calculator.
→ How to Open a Bank Account in Poland as an Expat — November 2026 Guide
How to open your Polish account (5 steps)
First, get your PESEL number at your local gmina office — both mBank and ING will ask for it, along with a Polish address and your residence permit. Second, choose your bank on the branches-versus-app question above, not on the headline fee, since both are free with conditions. Third, apply online (mBank) or in a branch (ING) with your passport, PESEL and address proof in hand. Fourth, activate BLIK in the app the day your account opens — it is how you will pay friends, shops and bills. Fifth, move one direct debit first (phone bill, for example), test it for a month, then move your salary once everything works.
If verification stalls — a common hiccup when documents are in another language — keep your Wise or Revolut account running in parallel so you are never without money. A rejected application at one Polish bank is not a black mark at the other: documentation requirements differ slightly, and a second application with a fuller document set often succeeds.
→ Best Bank Accounts in Poland for Expats — November 2026 Guide
Cards, apps and extras compared
mBank's app is the more complete digital product: budgeting spaces, savings goals, card controls and instant notifications are all first-class, and its card range covers both debit and credit. ING's app is clean and reliable but more traditional — excellent for statements, standing orders and branch-booked services, less playful for daily budgeting. Both issue cards that work with Apple Pay and Google Pay, both support BLIK, and both offer savings accounts and loans behind the current account. For expats, the practical difference is small: pick mBank if you live in your banking app, pick ING if you live near a branch and value walking in.
→ Best Bank Accounts in Poland for Expats — November 2026 Guide
How we compared: the methodology
How we compared
Fees and features checked: provider price lists plus the November 2026 expat banking comparison tables. Criteria and weights: monthly cost (25%), local IBAN plus easy onboarding (20%), English-language support (15%), ATM and branch access (15%), app and BLIK quality (15%), banking licence and deposit protection (10%). Scores are the editorial judgment of the ExpatMoneyEU Research Team — not financial advice. Any worked fee examples on this page are illustrative figures; always verify current fees with the provider before opening an account.
Practical tips for expats choosing in Poland
- PESEL first, but do not wait for it: open a Wise or Revolut account in week one, then add your Polish bank once your PESEL exists.
- BLIK is the key: whichever Polish bank you pick, activate BLIK — it is how Poles pay each other instantly by phone.
- Check the fee conditions: "free" Polish accounts usually need a monthly card spend or incoming transfer — read the condition, not just the headline.
- Keep both for a month: run the new Polish account alongside your fintech account before moving your salary, so a verification delay never leaves you without money.
→ Poland B2B Freelancer Net Income Calculator — November 2026 Guide
What changes in 2027
Polish banks typically publish revised price lists in January — re-check your account's fee schedule each new year rather than assuming nothing changed. Switching banks in Poland is straightforward once you have a PESEL, so a choice made today is never permanent.
Ready to open an account? These are our top picks — free to open, no monthly fee on the standard plans:
Open Wise Account →Open Revolut Account →Open N26 Account →