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Opening an account abroad
International corporate law
Business Setup and Support in Poland Opening a bank account in Poland

Mykola Sirenko

Lawyer

E-mail

sirenko@prikhodko.com.ua

Phone numbers

Expert in corporate and international corporate law. Has extensive experience in supporting the acquisition of financial licenses in Ukraine, as well as business incorporation in the EU, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the UAE, and key Asian jurisdictions.

Opening a bank account in Poland

An account with a Polish bank may be needed to receive a salary, make everyday payments, conduct business as an entrepreneur and handle company settlements. However, having the same objective — using funds in Poland — does not mean that the account-opening procedure will be the same. The bank takes into account the place of residence, the applicant’s documents, source of income and future transactions.

Prikhodko & Partners helps select a bank, prepare documents and undergo the review required to open a personal or corporate account. The purpose of legal support is to clarify the requirements in advance and eliminate inconsistencies that could delay consideration of the application.

Get advice on opening an account in Poland

How can a non-resident open an account in Poland?

The possibility of opening an account depends on the rules of the particular bank and the client’s status. Foreign citizenship, the absence of a Polish residence permit and non-resident tax status are different circumstances. They should be reflected correctly in the application rather than combined under the single term “non-resident”.

Before contacting the bank, it is advisable to confirm the required list of documents. Depending on the circumstances, the bank may request:

a passport or another document accepted for identification;
evidence of lawful stay and residential address;
a PESEL number if required for the selected product;
information about tax residence and a tax identification number;
evidence of employment, income or source of funds.

For example, for the account presented on its page for Ukrainian citizens, PKO Bank Polski requires an applicant to visit a branch with an identity document and an additional document in accordance with the bank’s requirements. Therefore, it is not advisable to rely on a passport alone without checking the requirements in advance. PKO Bank Polski requirements.

Can an account be opened online in Poland?

Remote opening is possible within the procedures available to the specific client. The presence of an “Open online” button does not by itself confirm that the bank will accept a foreign passport or an application from a person residing outside Poland.

It is necessary to check which documents are supported by remote identification and whether the process must be completed at a branch. In particular, mBank states in its requirements for new foreign clients that a passport and an additional document confirming legal stay are required. The mere availability of an online application is not sufficient to promise account opening without a visit. mBank requirements.

For a company, the possibility of remote identification of representatives and beneficial owners is checked separately. Document preparation can be organised online, but the method of signing the agreement is determined by the bank.

Which bank is best for opening an account in Poland?

A bank should be selected based on the applicant’s specific payments and documents. An account for salary payments, foreign currency savings and company settlements requires different service conditions.

Bank	What can be considered	What to check before applying
PKO Bank Polski	Personal account, multi-currency card, Ukrainian-language service	List of additional documents and the tariff for the selected package
mBank	Personal account with mobile banking and BLIK	Documents confirming legal stay and the available application method
Credit Agricole	Everyday payments and card transactions in EUR, USD and GBP	Acceptance of a foreigner’s documents and conditions for waiver of the card fee
Erste Bank Polska	Business account and foreign currency accounts within a corporate package	Whether the package matches the business form, documents of authorised signatories and service costs

These are reference points for comparison rather than confirmation that every bank will open an account for every non-resident. The final choice should be made after reviewing the client’s profile and current conditions.

Account in Poland for an individual

A personal account is used for salary payments, rent, purchases and savings. Before opening one, it is important to assess the overall cost of use: account maintenance, card fees, cash withdrawals and international transfers. Free account opening does not mean there will be no subsequent fees.

For example, Credit Agricole sets a separate condition for free card servicing for Konto dla Ciebie MAX — a required volume of card or BLIK payments. The tariff should therefore be assessed against the client’s normal spending habits. Credit Agricole terms.

If a significant credit is expected from the sale of property, a gift or accumulated income, documents confirming the source of funds should preferably be prepared in advance. The explanation should be consistent with the amount, sender and purpose of the transfer.

Account in Poland for a business or company

The required document package differs for a JDG — business activity conducted by an individual — and a sp. z o.o. — limited liability company. It is also important to distinguish between a Polish company with a foreign owner and a foreign company applying to a Polish bank.

For a business review, the following are prepared:

registration data from CEIDG or KRS depending on the form of activity;
constitutional documents and evidence of representatives’ authority;
ownership structure and information about ultimate beneficial owners;
a description of the activities, expected turnover and countries of counterparties;
agreements, invoices or other evidence of planned transactions.

A newly established company may not yet have a financial history. In that case, the source of initial funding and future activities should be explained consistently. A general phrase such as “international trade” leaves the bank with more questions than answers.

The suitability of the account for tax settlements, inclusion in the VAT white list and the application of the split payment mechanism are also checked where relevant to the business.

It will also be useful: Opening a premium private banking account abroad

Foreign currency account in Poland

A foreign currency account allows funds to be received and held in the relevant currency without converting each incoming payment into Polish zloty. The available currencies depend on the bank: for example, PKO Bank Polski offers accounts in EUR, USD, GBP, CHF and other currencies. PKO Bank Polski foreign currency products.

It is important to compare not only account maintenance fees but also exchange rates, SEPA and SWIFT charges and possible correspondent bank costs. For a payment card, it is worth checking the debit rules: under what conditions a payment is taken from the foreign currency account and when currency conversion occurs.

What is included in legal support for opening an account?

Prikhodko & Partners helps align the client’s documents with the requirements of the bank’s review. The scope of work depends on the circumstances and may include:

analysis of the applicant’s status and selection of banks to approach;
review of documents, registration data and authority;
preparation of explanations concerning business activities and source of funds;
assistance with completing questionnaires and responding to additional requests.

Inconsistent information regarding the address, income or owners may trigger repeated checks. Therefore, preparation begins before the application is submitted, not after the bank’s first request.

Calculate the cost of support

How we support the opening of an account in Poland

We clarify the objective. We determine the account type, required currencies, future payments and the applicant’s status.
We review the options. We clarify the banks’ requirements and the available application procedure.
We prepare the documents. We check the completeness of the package and the explanations required for the bank’s review.
We support the application. We help submit the information and handle additional requests until the bank makes its decision.

The timeframe depends on the completeness of the documents and the complexity of the review. The final decision on opening the account is made by the bank.

Advantages of legal support

Document requirements are checked before the planned visit.
Inconsistencies in questionnaires and registration data are identified before submission.
Explanations regarding funds and business activities are prepared together with supporting documents.
The account is selected taking into account future transactions and business needs.

Contact Prikhodko & Partners to determine the possible procedure for opening an account in Poland and the list of documents required for your situation.

Calculate the cost of services

1 question

Are you currently in Ukraine?

Yes

2 question

Are you currently in Poland?

Yes

3 question

Do you need advice on opening a personal bank account?

Yes

4 question

Do you need advice on opening a business bank account?

Yes

Frequently asked questions for the topic:

Does legal support guarantee the opening of a bank account in Poland?

No. Lawyers help prepare the application and documents, but they cannot replace the bank’s decision or waive its requirements for the client.

Can an application be submitted to another Polish bank after a refusal to open an account?

Yes. However, it is advisable first to review the possible reasons for the refusal and correct any deficiencies in the documents. Resubmitting the same package does not guarantee a different result.

What should you do if the bank refuses without explaining the reason?

Yes. The customer verification process does not end with the signing of the contract. The bank may request confirmation of specific transactions, so contracts, statements and other documents must be kept.

Successful cases on the topic: