What documents do I need to open a bank account in Poland?
If you have an address of residence in Poland, opening a bank account is very easy – in some cases banks will allow you to open one without visiting a branch, using video identification or even sending you the final documents to sign by post, with the postman having the authority to verify your identity.
For non-residents, it can be a little more complicated – but several banks now offer the possibility to open a bank account by providing only an identity card, such as a passport.
Here are the documents that will be required when opening a bank account:
- Passport or a national identification card
- Proof of address, such as a tenancy agreement or residence card, or a utility bill if you do not already have a contract
- For credit cards or overdraft options: employment history and salary slips
- Banks in Poland usually have English-speaking employees, and it shouldn’t be difficult to get support in English via phone and customer service centers. If you have questions regarding required documents, contact your preferred bank via phone.
Can I open a bank account as a non-resident?
The best thing to do is to check with the banks to see what their individual requirements are. Some of them have a foreigner-friendly policy and only ask for proof of identity, in most cases a passport, and in addition they may also require proof of residence in the country where you live or PESEL number.
Examples of banks in Poland:
- Alior Bank
- Bank Millenium
- Bank Pekao
- BNP Paribas
- Credit Agricole
- ING Bank Śląski
- mBank
- PKO BP
- Santander Bank Polska
Please check each bank’s website to see what documents are required, as this may vary.