Do you think that officially registering a company in Poland for foreigners is the most difficult task? Actually, there are even more difficulties ahead of you related to doing business, namely accounting, filing tax returns, paying social security contributions, and much more. However, some things deserve separate consideration. We are talking about opening a corporate bank account for a Polish company founded by a foreign citizen. It is not as simple as opening an account at any Polish bank for an individual. That is why you should learn more about what you will face after opening a company.
Native residents of Poland will have no problems with this task. The same cannot be said for foreign business owners. No, this article is not an advertisement for one or more banks in Poland. We want to provide you with as much useful information as possible, because we know how difficult it is to start a business abroad on your own. Here we will tell you how foreigners can open a corporate account after officially registering a company in Poland. Here we go!
Is it necessary to open a corporate bank account?
The first thing to start this article with is understanding whether you are required to open a bank account for your company. Who should do this and when? Let's take a closer look at this issue, depending on the existing forms of business activity:
Unregistered activity (Firma na próbę or Działalność nierejestrowa). It is not necessary to register a corporate bank account. You can use your personal account.
Sole proprietorship (JDG). The law does not require you to open a corporate account with Jednoosobowa Działalność Gospodarcza. However, bank transfers are required for transfers exceeding PLN 15,000. The tax office requires that payments be made through a registered business account.
LLC (Sp. z o.o.). For Sp. z o.o. and other legal entities, a bank account is required. It is needed to deposit the authorized capital, make payments to partners, and pay taxes.
If you want to run a serious business, sooner or later you will have to open a corporate bank account. This will allow you to safely accept payments, issue invoices, and conduct business activities normally. When it comes to JDG, many entrepreneurs open a bank account almost immediately after registering as an individual entrepreneur.
Learn more about the differences between JDG and Sp. z o.o. for foreigners → https://aksis.agency/ru/blog/sp-z-o-o-vs-jdg-for-foreigners-a-guide-to-taxation-and-liability-in-2025
List of popular banks in Poland for opening a corporate account
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Bank name | Is it possible to open a corporate account? | Service cost |
PKO Bank Polski | Yes | Free for active customers |
Santander Bank Polska | Yes | Starting from PLN 25 per month and above |
Bank Pekao S.A. | Yes | From PLN 20 per month |
mBank | Yes | Free service package available |
ING Bank Śląski | Yes | Depends on the chosen tariff |
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The nuances that foreigners should consider
As we mentioned above, opening a corporate bank account for foreigners is very different from the approach used for Polish citizens. If you are a foreign CEO in Poland, then you should learn about some of the nuances in advance. For example, you should understand that Polish banks will look at you from different angles, checking many aspects. Here are a few things that could put you at risk when opening a corporate account:
If you have any connection to Russia (you do business there, have relatives there, hold Russian citizenship, etc.).
If you have ties to occupied cities in Ukraine.
If you are a public figure or politician in another country (e.g., bloggers or members of parliament).
If you are connected to offshore companies. You can find out more about this from the official source by downloading the document at the link.
What other nuances and pitfalls should be considered? To open a bank account for a company, you need to visit the branch in person to sign the agreement. If you cannot or do not want to do this in person, it is better to take care of the power of attorney in advance. In this case, you should immediately expect additional costs for the official registration of the power of attorney.
Another point to consider is the business model you have chosen. Why is this important? Any bank will want to know how your company will generate income to ensure that you are a solvent player in the market. They are not interested in those who are unable to pay. Your business model must first and foremost be understandable to the financial institution. They may even request information about third parties and counterparties with whom you plan to conduct business.
The connection between a legal address and opening a bank account
It is important to consider where your business is officially registered when opening a corporate account. What do we mean by this? Recently, “virtual offices” have become quite popular among start-up entrepreneurs in Poland. This is not surprising, as you do not have to spend money on expensive monthly rent for physical premises. However, banks pay special attention to those who have chosen a virtual office for their company.
This is not a compelling reason for refusal, but there are a few nuances. For example, how many other companies are already registered at the virtual office address. If there are already more than 500 companies at this address, you may be refused a corporate bank account. Also, make sure that you have signed a lease agreement (or at least a partial lease agreement).
The process of opening a business account with a Polish bank
In reality, this process is not as complicated as getting approval from bank employees. So, what is the process of opening a bank account in Poland for a business with a foreign CEO? First, you need to choose a suitable bank and submit an application. As we mentioned above, this usually requires a personal visit to the bank. However, some institutions allow you to submit your application online. Along with the application, key documents must be submitted: an extract from the register (KRS), the articles of association, information about the beneficiaries (CRBR), and the office lease agreement. The company representative must also provide a passport and a certificate with a PESEL number.
The bank reviews the application within a few hours to a few weeks, sometimes requesting additional information. If the decision is positive, the company representative signs the agreement and connects the remote services. IMPORTANT: use a Polish phone number and activate the mobile app immediately for quick access to online banking.
If you encounter difficulties when registering a company or opening a corporate account with a Polish bank, you will need professional help. The best solution is to delegate such tasks to experienced agents from aksis. Why to choose us? We have dozens of cases under our belt, from official registration of sole proprietorships for foreigners to filing tax returns. We will be happy to help you start your business in Poland more easily by opening a corporate account at one of the local banks!
