Poland, a country of medieval castles, vibrant cities, and rich history, offers a blend of cultural heritage and modern convenience. Whether you’re strolling through Kraków’s Old Town, exploring the historic sites of Warsaw, or hiking in the Tatra Mountains, understanding cash and payment options is important. While Poland is increasingly cashless, cash is still useful for small shops, markets, and rural areas. This guide provides essential details on cash and ATMs in Poland, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, ensuring a smooth and stress-free visit.
Where to find ATMs in Poland?
Urban Areas: In major cities like Warsaw, Kraków, and Gdańsk, ATMs are widely available, especially in city centers, shopping malls, and near bank branches.
Tourist Spots: Popular destinations like the Old Town in Warsaw, Wawel Castle in Kraków, and the Baltic Sea coast have ATMs in their vicinity, often within or near tourist facilities. ATMs are commonly found in shops, transportation hubs, and nearly all banks.
Rural Areas: In smaller towns and rural regions, ATM availability can be limited. It’s advisable to carry sufficient cash when traveling outside major cities.
Best ATMs to use in Poland for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Poland are those owned by popular banks such as:
- Bank Pekao
- Santander
- Millennium
- BNP Paribas
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
Some international banks also have their ATMs in Poland namely Citi.
There is one Global ATM Alliance member bank – BNP Paribas in Poland.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Poland, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or, Charge in PLN).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra fee for this.
- If you Decline, the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in PLN’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Poland?
Yes, majority of the foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Poland.
ATMs commonly accept Visa, Mastercard cards. Some of them accept Maestro, Plus, Cirrus cards. Others like American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Diners, Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
ATM operations
Opening hours: 24/7.
Identifying an ATM: ATMs in Poland are usually found by a signage of word ATM’ or ‘Bankomat’.
Language options: ATMs typically offer Polish, English and Russian as language options.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Poland?
ATMs in Poland dispense cash in Polish Zloty (PLN) only. Some non-bank ATMs offer option to withdraw Euros or US Dollars.
ATM withdrawal limits in Poland
ATMs in Poland have varying maximum withdrawal limits. Some allow to withdraw zł 2,000 per transaction, some zł 8,000 and some as much as the card’s withdrawal limit.
ATM Fees in Poland
There are some fee-free ATMs in Poland. Some of the bank ATMs in Poland do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders and some charge zł 19.9 to zł 25 per transaction (Polish Zloty). So there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Poland as a foreign cardholder!
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Poland. These are:
1. ATM’s Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion).
2. Your Bank’s forex markup fee, if any.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Poland
Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Poland?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Poland. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Poland.
Safety at ATMs
Poland is generally considered a safe destination for travelers. However, there have been reports of ATM-related fraud, including card skimming. Some travelers have also reported restrictions from their home banks on using cards at ATMs in Poland due to concerns about fraud.Use ATMs located in well-lit, populated areas or within bank premises to minimize potential risks. Be vigilant for any unusual devices attached to ATMs, which could indicate skimming attempts.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Poland takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, its possible. There are many fee-free ATMs in Poland. Majority of the Bank ATMs do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs here.
Bitcoin ATMs
Poland has a significant number of Bitcoin ATMs, with 278 machines installed nationwide, making it the fifth-largest host of Bitcoin ATMs globally.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Poland
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: Yes, Citibank operates ATMs here.
Barclays: No, Barclays does not have ATMs here.
HSBC: No, HSBC does not operate ATMs here.
Standard Chartered: No, Standard Chartered does not have ATMs here.
