Bank Account for Germans in Poland
As Germany is an EU member state, Germans have the right to live, work, and open bank accounts in Poland without a visa. The process is straightforward — most banks accept your national ID card, and you can open an account online in minutes. With over 12,000 Germans already living in Poland, banks have adapted their services to welcome EU citizens. This guide covers the best banks, required documents, and step-by-step instructions.
Quick Answer
Yes, Germans can open a bank account in Poland with a valid ID card or passport
EU advantage: As an EU citizen, you have the same banking rights as Polish citizens — no extra documents needed
Fastest option: Revolut — 10 minutes, no Polish documents needed
Best Polish bank: mBank — free, 100% online, English app, BLIK included
Best strategy: Open mBank or Revolut now + PKO for full services once you have PESEL
Table of Contents
Best Banks for Germans in Poland (2026)
As an EU citizen from Germany, you can open an account at any Polish bank with just your national ID card. We ranked these banks by how easy and fast they are for Germans — considering online access, English support, fees, and everyday usefulness.
mBank
Best Polish bank — 100% online
PKO Bank Polski
Largest bank in Poland — 20,000+ ATMs
Revolut
Fastest — open in 10 minutes
BNP Paribas
International bank — great for expats
What Documents Do Germans Need?
As an EU citizen from Germany, you have the same rights as Polish citizens when opening a bank account. The process is simpler than for non-EU citizens — here's what you need:
Required Documents (EU Citizens)
Good to Have (Speeds Up the Process)
What You Do NOT Need
PESEL for Germans — How to Get It
PESEL is Poland's 11-digit national identification number. Most banks require it for full services, and you'll need it for employment contracts, healthcare (NFZ), tax returns, and government services. As an EU citizen, you can get PESEL quickly by registering your residence at any municipal office. It's a simple process that usually takes the same day.
How to Get PESEL
What PESEL Unlocks
Step-by-Step: Open Your Account Today
Recommended approach: Open mBank or Revolut right now (10-15 min, works immediately). Then open PKO Bank Polski once you have your PESEL for salary, rent, and bills. Many Germans in Poland use two accounts — one digital, one traditional.
Get a Polish phone number
Buy a prepaid SIM card from Plus, Play, T-Mobile, or Orange. Costs 5-20 PLN at any kiosk, Żabka convenience store, or electronics shop. You need this for SMS verification at every bank. Registration requires your passport.
Open your first account online
Download the mBank or Revolut app. Sign up with your Germany passport — no PESEL needed. You'll get a Polish IBAN and virtual card in 10-15 minutes. You can already receive money, pay with BLIK, and make contactless payments.
Apply for PESEL
Visit your local Urząd Gminy with your passport. PESEL registration is free. As an EU citizen, this is usually processed the same day. This number is essential for full banking services and employment.
Open a traditional Polish bank account
With your PESEL, open an account at PKO Bank Polski (in branch, 30 min) or BNP Paribas. These banks offer the full range of services — salary accounts, standing orders for rent, direct debits for bills, and mortgage options. Give your employer this account's IBAN for salary payments.
Set up your financial life
Set up standing orders for rent and utilities from your Polish bank. Use Revolut or Wise when you need to send money to Germany — much cheaper than bank transfers. Download the BLIK app for quick payments and ATM withdrawals without a card.
Germans Community in Poland
Poland is home to approximately 12,000 Germans. The community is concentrated in major cities, which also means banks in these areas are experienced with Germany documents and passports.
Popular Cities
Most Germans live in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan. These cities have the best English-speaking bank branches and services for foreigners.
Common Professions
Germans in Poland commonly work as Engineer, Manager, Consultant, Researcher. All of these roles pay salaries to Polish bank accounts.
Tax treaty: Germany and Poland have a double taxation agreement. This means you won't be taxed twice on the same income. Your Polish bank account statements will be useful for tax filing in both countries. See our tax guide for details.
What is BLIK? (Essential for Daily Life in Poland)
BLIK is Poland's national mobile payment system — used by over 17 million people. As a Germans person living in Poland, you'll use BLIK almost daily. It's the most popular way to pay in Poland after card payments.
Pay in stores
Generate a 6-digit code in your banking app, enter it at the terminal
Pay online
Choose BLIK at checkout, confirm in your app — no card number needed
ATM withdrawals
Withdraw cash from any ATM without a physical card
Send money to friends
Transfer money instantly using just a phone number
Split bills
Split restaurant bills or shared expenses instantly
Recurring payments
Set up BLIK for subscription services and recurring bills
BLIK is available through mBank, PKO Bank Polski, BNP Paribas, and Revolut. Once you open any of these accounts, BLIK is included for free. Learn more in our complete BLIK guide.
Banking Tips for Germans in Poland
Use your EU rights
Polish banks cannot refuse you an account based on your nationality. Under EU law, you have the right to a basic payment account. If any bank gives you trouble, mention Directive 2014/92/EU.
Keep your Germany bank account too
Many Germans keep their home bank account active alongside their Polish one. Revolut makes it easy to hold both PLN and EUR, so you can transfer between countries cheaply.
Get PESEL early
Even though it's not strictly required for basic accounts, PESEL makes everything smoother — from banking to phone contracts to healthcare. Register at Urząd Gminy in your first week.
Free SEPA transfers
As an EU citizen, your transfers between Germany and Poland within the SEPA zone are free or very cheap (same as domestic transfers). mBank and PKO offer free SEPA transfers.
Sending Money to Germany from Poland
Sending money between Poland and Germany is easy thanks to SEPA transfers — they're free or nearly free with most banks. However, if you need to send larger amounts or convert currencies, Revolut and Wise still offer better rates than traditional banks.
| Method | Fee (5,000 PLN) | Exchange rate | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ~20 PLN | Mid-market rate | 1-2 days |
| Revolut | ~15 PLN | Near mid-market | Instant - 1 day |
| SEPA Transfer (PLN→EUR) | 0 PLN | Bank rate (markup) | 1 business day |
| Western Union | 30-60 PLN | Markup | Minutes (cash pickup) |
Our recommendation: Use Revolut for quick transfers to Germany and Wise for larger amounts where the best exchange rate matters. Both save you hundreds of PLN per year compared to bank transfers. For more details, see our Revolut vs Wise comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Germans open a bank account in Poland without PESEL?▼
Yes. mBank and Revolut allow Germans to open an account with just a Germany passport — no PESEL required. These are full bank accounts with Polish IBAN, BLIK, and debit cards. For traditional banks like PKO Bank Polski and BNP Paribas, you'll need PESEL, which you can get for free at any municipal office (Urząd Gminy).
Do I need to speak Polish to open an account?▼
No. mBank offers full English online account opening — the entire process is in English, and the app and website are available in English. Revolut is available in English and many other languages. PKO Bank Polski and BNP Paribas have English-speaking staff at branches in major cities like Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Gdansk. If you visit a smaller branch, consider bringing a Polish-speaking friend.
Can I open a Polish bank account before arriving in Poland?▼
Yes — with Revolut. You can download the app and open an account from Germany using your passport. You'll get a Polish IBAN immediately, which you can share with your future employer before you arrive. mBank requires a Polish phone number for SMS verification, so it's easier to open once you're in Poland (or if you have a Polish SIM with roaming).
Can I receive my salary to Revolut or mBank?▼
Yes. Both Revolut and mBank give you a Polish IBAN (starts with PL...) that works like any Polish bank account. Most employers accept these for salary payments. However, some employers or government agencies prefer traditional Polish banks (PKO, BNP Paribas). In that case, use a traditional bank for salary and Revolut for international transfers and currency exchange.
What is the cheapest way to send money from Poland to Germany?▼
Revolut and Wise are the cheapest options. For a 5,000 PLN transfer, you'll pay about 15-25 PLN with the real exchange rate. Traditional Polish banks charge 50-100 PLN per transfer plus use bad exchange rates — costing you 2-4x more. Over a year of monthly transfers, switching to Revolut or Wise can save you 500-1,500 PLN.
Can I use BLIK as a German citizen?▼
Yes — BLIK works with any Polish bank account, regardless of your citizenship. Once you open mBank, PKO, Revolut, or BNP Paribas in Poland, BLIK is automatically available. You can use it to pay in stores, online shops, split bills with friends, and withdraw cash from any ATM using a 6-digit code — no card needed.
Is my money safe in a Polish bank?▼
Yes. All Polish banks are protected by the Bank Guarantee Fund (Bankowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny / BFG), which insures deposits up to EUR 100,000 per person per bank — regardless of your citizenship or nationality. This applies to mBank, PKO, and BNP Paribas. Revolut has equivalent protection under its Lithuanian banking license (EUR 100,000 via the European Deposit Insurance Scheme).
How many bank accounts can I have in Poland?▼
There is no limit. Many expats in Poland have 2-3 accounts: a traditional bank (mBank or PKO) for salary and bills, Revolut for international transfers and travel, and sometimes a savings account at a different bank for better interest rates. Each account is separately insured up to EUR 100,000.
Open Your Polish Bank Account Today
Join 12,000+ Germans already living in Poland. Start with mBank or Revolut — it takes 10-15 minutes and works with just your Germany passport. Add PKO Bank Polski later for full services once you have PESEL.