Polish banking is one of the more developed digital-banking markets in Europe. By 2026 personal banking is broadly accessible to new residents with the standard documentation; corporate banking is more selective for non-resident-controlled companies but workable for cases with genuine substance.
Personal banking
The major Polish banks (PKO BP, Pekao, mBank, ING Bank Śląski, Santander Bank Polska, Millennium, Alior, BNP Paribas, and others) onboard new residents with:
- Passport / ID
- Polish residence permit or registration certificate
- Proof of Polish address (lease or utility)
- PESEL number (Polish personal identification) - obtainable through residence registration
- Source-of-funds documentation for material opening transfers
- CRS declarations
Digital-first options (Revolut Polska, Bunq, and others) commonly used alongside a Polish account.
PESEL is the universal handle
The PESEL number, obtained through residence registration, is the universal handle for Polish administrative and financial life. Without PESEL, account opening is harder; with it, it's a standard process.
Corporate banking
For a Polish sp. z o.o.:
- Formation documents (KRS registration)
- UBO documentation with tax-residence declarations
- Source of opening capital
- Business plan / activity description
- Director identification
- Initial transactions plan
Clean cases open in 2-4 weeks. Cases with complex UBO chains, sensitive sectors, or unclear source of funds take longer or are declined.
What complicates things
- UBOs in jurisdictions the bank's framework flags
- Sensitive sectors (crypto, gaming, specific online activities)
- Source-of-funds gaps
- No real Polish operational presence for a Polish-registered company
What we tell movers and founders
- Get the PESEL through residence registration as the first administrative step.
- Open the personal account in the first weeks of residence.
- For corporate accounts, prepare the documentation package before applying.
- Use digital-first providers for cross-border FX flows.
- Keep declarations consistent across the bank, residency permit, and tax filings.
Polish banking is one of the more digital-friendly markets in the EU.