Open a Personal Bank Account in Poland at PKO BP, Pekao, or ING

Document Checklist

paszport Passport Most accepted for: Foreigners opening a standard personal accountRequired: Original; must be valid The *paszport* is the identity document most consistently accepted from foreigners at the large Polish banks. A Polish national ID card (*dowód osobisty*) is the standard for Polish citizens and is not held by most newcomers.
karta pobytu Residence card or visa Required for: Non-EU nationals, as evidence of legal stay alongside the passportAccepted as: Supporting identity and legal-stay document at some banks Non-EU nationals are commonly asked for a *karta pobytu* or visa in addition to the passport. EU/EEA nationals typically face a lighter set — a passport or national ID plus an address.
PESEL PESEL number Required: Requested by some banks at opening; others let you add it laterFormat: 11-digit number, once assigned Some large banks, including PKO BP, open a basic account without a PESEL and let you add it later; others ask for it at opening. Having a PESEL generally smooths the process. Confirm with the specific bank.
Proof of a Polish address Examples: Rental agreement, recent utility bill, or other recent official correspondenceRequired: Bank-specific; not every bank asks for it for a basic account Some banks ask for confirmation of a Polish residential address; others do not require it for a basic account. Where asked, recent documents (commonly within about three months) are expected.