Bank account

Although you can use your card without any problems in Poland, it would be advised to create a Polish bank account. Using foreign account for your reimbursement will result in additional costs because of the currency conversion.

If you decide to open a bank account in Poland, you should go to a bank with all required documents. To avoid going to a bank a couple of times and extending the whole process, you can call a chosen bank’s helpline and explain your status (resident/non-resident) and ask about required documents, if the PESEL number is required, if there is an online banking system in English, if in all branches there is a possibility to speak to a consultant in English, and if you will be able to use all additional banking services.

Documents required by the selected banks in Poland (documents may change so it is best to consult with the helpline before going to a bank).

Bank Required documents
Alior Bank EU citizens: passport / residence card (permanent/temporary) / identity card

Non-EU citizens: passport + residence card (permanent/temporary)

BGŻ BNP Paribas EU citizens: identity card / passport
Non-EU citizens: identity card/passport + residence card
BOŚ Bank passport / identity card
Credit Agricole EU citizens: identity card / passport

Non-EU citizens: residence card

eurobank residence card (with photo, PESEL and address)
Getin Bank EU citizens: identity card/passport + residence card/certificate of registration of residence of an EU citizen

Non-EU citizens: passport + residence card

Idea Bank passport / residence card
mBank passport + residence card/certificate of registration of residence of an EU citizen

PESEL is required

Millennium passport
Nest Bank passport / identity card issued by an EU country
PESEL is required
Raiffeisen Polbank passport + residence card
Santander Bank Polska EU identity card / passport / residence card
T-Mobile Usługi Bankowe passport/residence / certificate of registration of residence of an EU citizen / identity card
PESEL is required


Information translated from: https://www.najlepszekonto.pl/rachunek-bankowy-dla-obcokrajowca.