Poland
Poland, a developed country in Central Europe, has a diverse and growing economy with strong sectors in services, manufacturing, technology, and digital infrastructure. Economic growth in Poland is supported by government reforms, foreign investments, and a booming digital economy.
In 2023, Poland's GDP grew by 3.0%, driven by private consumption, public investment, and the rise of e-commerce and online payment solutions. Growth is projected to reach 3.5% in 2024, supported by business investments, higher disposable incomes, and ongoing expansion of digital payment systems, despite moderate external demand from EU trading partners.
Inflation is expected to decline from 7.2% in 2023 to 4.8% in 2024, and further to 3.5% in 2025, while the unemployment rate is projected to remain stable at around 5.8%, reflecting a strong labor market and opportunities in technology, finance, and manufacturing sectors.
Poland’s e-commerce market, driven by card payments, mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and the BLIK system, continues to expand. The fiscal deficit is expected to remain manageable, while the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to stabilize, reflecting sustainable economic growth and strategic investment in digital infrastructure.
Top banks
Poland has a well-developed banking sector with numerous reputable banks that serve both individual and corporate clients. Here are some of the top banks in Poland:
PKO Bank Polski
PKO Bank Polski, the largest bank in Poland by assets and one of the country’s oldest institutions, provides retail, corporate, and investment banking services, along with asset management. With digital banking, mobile payments, online transactions, and fintech integration, it drives cashless payments and supports Poland’s modern financial ecosystem.
Bank Pekao S.A.
Bank Pekao is one of Poland’s largest banks, part of the UniCredit Group, offering retail, corporate, and investment banking services. Known for digital banking, mobile apps, online payments, and fintech integration, it supports cashless transactions, secure financial services, and Poland’s growing digital economy.
ING Bank Śląski
ING Bank Śląski is a prominent Polish bank and part of the Dutch ING Group, offering retail, corporate, and digital banking services. Known for mobile banking, online payments, credit and debit cards, and secure e-commerce solutions, it drives cashless transactions, fintech adoption, and financial inclusion across Poland.
Santander Bank Polska
Santander Bank Polska is a leading retail and corporate bank in Poland, part of the global Santander Group. It provides digital banking, mobile payments, credit and debit cards, online banking, and cashless transaction solutions, supporting financial inclusion, fintech adoption, and secure e-commerce payments across Poland.
mBank
mBank Poland is a top digital bank in Poland, providing retail and corporate banking services with a focus on online banking, mobile payments, fintech solutions, and cashless transactions. As part of the Commerzbank Group, mBank drives innovation, secure digital finance, and financial inclusion across Poland.
Alior Bank
Alior Bank Poland is a leading Polish bank recognized for its innovation, customer service, and digital banking solutions. Offering retail, corporate, and private banking services, Alior Bank supports cashless payments, online banking, fintech adoption, and modern financial services across Poland’s evolving digital economy.
Millennium
Bank Millennium Poland is a prominent Polish bank and part of the Portuguese Millennium BCP Group, offering retail banking, mortgage lending, and business banking services. The bank has demonstrated steady revenue growth, strengthening its position in Poland’s financial sector, supporting digital banking, cashless payments, and fintech adoption nationwide.
Getin Noble Bank
Getin Noble Bank is a well-established Polish retail bank offering mortgage loans, consumer finance, and personal banking services. Although smaller than major competitors, it maintains a strong presence in Poland’s banking sector. In 2022, Getin Noble Bank’s revenue reached approximately PLN 2.1 billion, reflecting its steady performance and customer trust.
Top payment methods
BLIK
BLIK is a Polish mobile payment system that has gained significant traction in recent years. It allows users to make mobile payments, online purchases, in-store payments, ATM withdrawals, and even peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers using their smartphones. BLIK is linked directly to users' bank accounts and does not require a credit card or debit card.
Visa
Visa is the world’s largest global card network by transaction value, accepted almost everywhere. It’s known for secure, fast, and reliable payments, positioning itself as “the best way to pay and get paid by everyone.”
Mastercard
Mastercard is a global payments leader, dominating the co-branded card market in Europe and key countries like Brazil, Canada, and Germany. Known for secure, contactless, mobile, and digital payment solutions, Mastercard drives e-commerce, fintech, and online banking innovation worldwide.
ApplePay
Google Pay
Google Pay enables secure digital payments using stored credit or debit cards for online, in-app, and in-store purchases. It offers a fast, seamless checkout experience on Android devices and supports 3D Secure authentication for EU and UK-issued cards.
Paybybank
At checkout, when you select Pay by Bank as your online payment method, you can securely pay directly from your bank account. Simply choose your bank, which generates a secure payment link to authorize the transaction. Once authorized, you are redirected back to the checkout page. No card details, no account creation, and no personal financial information are shared, making Pay by Bank a safe, fast, and convenient online payment solution.
This digital banking payment solution is offered by PayOp, covering almost all of Europe and competing with top online payment providers in the e-commerce and fintech market.
Concluding remarks
In Poland, payment habits are similar to those in other developed countries, with a mix of traditional and modern payment methods gaining popularity. Cash, debit cards, and credit cards remain widely accepted for everyday transactions. However, mobile payments and contactless payments have seen a significant rise in recent years, reflecting the country’s growing digital shift. Below, we detail each of these payment methods and their particularities in Poland:
Cash
Cash is still in use in Poland, but its share of total payments is shrinking rapidly. Digital payments, including card payments (Visa, Mastercard), BLIK, and mobile wallets, are replacing cash in most areas of life. While cash remains important for small, everyday purchases, the trend is clearly moving toward a cashless society, especially in urban areas, and this shift is expected to continue over the next several years.
E-wallets
E-wallets in Poland are becoming a key part of the payment ecosystem, with systems like BLIK, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal leading the charge. The use of mobile wallets continues to grow, driven by increasing adoption of contactless payments, e-commerce, and mobile banking. Polish consumers are increasingly relying on these digital solutions for their everyday transactions, and their popularity is expected to rise further in the coming years.
Banks of Poland
The most popular banks include PKO Bank Polski, mBank, Bank Pekao, Santander Bank Polska, and ING Bank Śląski. PKO Bank Polski is the largest, with a broad customer base and a significant share in the banking market. mBank is known for its digital banking services, while Santander and ING offer comprehensive financial services with a strong presence in both retail and corporate banking. Bank Pekao is also a key player, offering a wide range of banking products. These banks are prominent for their innovative digital solutions and customer-focused services.
Debit and Credit Cards
Debit and credit cards, primarily issued by Visa and Mastercard, are very popular in Poland. Contactless payments dominate, with more than 80% of card transactions being contactless. Polish consumers use cards frequently for both in-store and online payments, and card ownership is widespread across the population.
Payment methods
BLIK is emerging as a significant player in Poland, especially for mobile and online transactions, while Visa and Mastercard continue to dominate in the card payment sector, particularly for both in-store and online purchases. The future seems to be shifting towards paybybank, while BLINK, Visa&Mastercard still has a big popularity in the market.
About Processing News
You Won’t Learn This in Business School – Real Industry Insight
The global payments industry evolves faster than ever — powering everything from digital banking to eCommerce transactions. Yet few truly understand how payment processing, fintech innovation, and financial technology shape the world economy. That’s where Processing News comes in. At Processing News, we don’t just report on the payments ecosystem — we’ve built, run, and innovated within it. Our team of experts includes former fintech executives, payment system architects, compliance officers, and technology insiders who bring real-world experience to every article. We launched Processing News to be the Wikipedia of Payments — accessible, in-depth, and always accurate. In an era of clickbait and recycled press releases, we deliver trusted payments journalism rooted in industry expertise and data-driven analysis. Whether it’s new payment regulations, card network updates, emerging fintech startups, or fraud prevention trends, we provide clear, credible insight into what truly drives the global payment processing industry.
Welcome to Processing News — Real people. Real experience. Real payments journalism.
Contact us:
