ATMs in Poland: locations, fees, and tips

Planning on visiting Poland from the UK? Whether it’s a short holiday or a longer stay for work or study, you’re going to sort out your spending money.

If you’d prefer to use cash during your trip, this guide is for you. Read on for all the info you need on finding and using ATMs in Poland, including which cards and PIN numbers are accepted.

We’ll also cover fees and currency conversion, to help you get the best deal when withdrawing Polish zlotys.

We’ll even show you a super convenient way to spend and withdraw money abroad using the Wise card, which works in 150+ countries including Poland.

Explore the Wise card

Where do I find ATMs in Poland?

ATM’s are widely available in Poland, especially in the bigger cities and towns. You’ll find them in airports, bus and train stations, shopping centres, supermarkets and outside branches of banks.

You shouldn’t have any trouble finding an ATM if you’re in a city, town or popular tourist area. In smaller towns and more remote areas of the country though, they may take a little more effort to find.

To find your nearest ATM, try these locator tools from major international and Polish banks:

• Citi Handlowy (Citibank) ATM locator
• Millennium Bank ATM locator
• mBank ATM locator
• Bank Pekao ATM locator.

What are ATMs called in Poland?

ATMs are generally called ATMs in Poland, although you might also see them labelled with ‘Bankomat’.¹

They should look similar to the cash machines you’ll find back in the UK.

Will my credit or debit card work in Polish ATMs?

As a UK traveller, you should be fine to use your card at Polish ATMs. They generally accept Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards,² which are the most commonly issued types of cards in the UK.

Most should also accept international cards, as well as locally-issued ones.² Some may accept American Express cards, but you may need to put in a little effort to find one.

You can search for your nearest cash machine in Poland with these global ATM locators from Visa, Mastercard and American Express:

• Visa ATM locator
• Mastercard ATM locator
• American Express ATM locator

Before withdrawing cash, just make sure to check whether your bank at home has any charges for overseas ATM withdrawals.

Poland ATM Pins

ATMs in Poland generally accept the 4-digit PINs we use here in the UK.

When it comes to paying for things with your card, Chip & PIN is widely used in Poland. In bigger cities and towns, you should also be able to pay with contactless or mobile wallets in many shops, restaurants and other places.³

In more remote places, there’s a small chance you’ll encounter older magnetic stripe systems (where your card needs to be swiped).

Many debit cards have both, but it’s a good idea to check before you travel.

Poland ATM max cash withdrawal limits

The maximum amount you can withdraw from an ATM (whether in the UK or overseas) will largely depend on your home bank and its limits.

But Polish ATMs also have their own limits, which vary between 800 and 20,000 Polish zloty - depending which ATM you use.²

Let your bank know before you travel

Nowadays, it isn’t absolutely essential to inform your bank that you’ll be using your debit card abroad.

But it could be a good idea to do it anyway, just in case any of your transactions in Poland are flagged up as potentially fraudulent. They could end up being blocked or your card frozen, which is the last thing you want in the middle of a trip.

To avoid any of this hassle, it could even be worth getting an alternative spending card - one that is specially designed for international travel.

A great option is the Wise card, as it works in 150+ countries and lets you withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) from overseas ATMs without any fees*. Wise doesn’t charge for these withdrawals but you’ll need to check that the ATM operator doesn’t charge its own fees.

Choose to withdraw in the local currency and your Wise card will do the currency conversion at the mid-market exchange rate with only a small conversion fee*.

This means no expensive mark-ups eating into your spending money.

What are the ATM fees in Poland?

So, how much will it cost you to withdraw cash in Poland?

There are a few things to factor in, including ATM access fees, your UK bank’s foreign transaction fees and currency conversion costs. We’ll look at each of these in more detail below.

Exchange rate fees at ATMs in Poland (DCC)

The first thing to get to grips with when taking cash out abroad is currency conversion.

If you’ve ever used an ATM in another country, you’ll have seen the screen which asks you if you want the transaction to be carried out in your home currency (GBP) or the local currency (in this case, PLN).

It’s always recommended to choose to withdraw in the local currency, and decline the currency conversion.

This should mean you get a better exchange rate. This is because the conversion will be done by your bank or card provider, rather than the ATM - which would use something called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) to choose its own exchange rate.

When DCC is involved, it usually means an unfavourable rate and a more expensive transaction for you. So, it’s best avoided.

Home bank ATM fees

Before using an ATM abroad, it’s a good idea to check whether your bank back in the UK charges foreign transaction fees.

These are sometimes called ‘non-Sterling transaction fees’. They apply to spending outside the UK as well as withdrawing cash at foreign ATMs.

So to avoid any surprise charges, get in touch with your bank before you travel. Alternatively, you can take a look at the fee information document for your UK bank account.

Poland bank ATM fees

The good news is that many bank-owned ATMs in Poland don’t tend to charge access fees.

However, there may be exceptions, and some may charge around 0.63% of the withdrawal amount.² Other non-bank providers like Euronet may also charge fees.

So, make sure to check the ATM screen and see if there are any fees before confirming the withdrawal.

Can I get free cash withdrawals in Poland?

Yes, it should be possible to get free cash withdrawals in Poland, but you may need to try a few different ATMs.

Opt for a bank-owned ATM - if there’s a fee, it’ll be displayed on the screen before you confirm the transaction.

Just make sure you decline the option for currency conversion.

Alternatively, you can check if your UK bank has a partnership with any Polish banks. If so, you may be able to benefit from low or no fees if you use their ATMs.

For example, Deutsche Bank operates in both the UK and Poland, and is part of the Global ATM Alliance - this means it offers fee-free ATM withdrawals to its customers in all countries where it operates.

Tips for avoiding ATM fees in Poland

Always choose to be charged in the local currency

When you use a UK-issued card in a foreign ATM, you may be offered the ‘service’ of being charged in your local currency (i.e. GBP). While this may seem the easiest option, it’s always best to decline this.

Being charged in the local currency helps you avoid hidden ATM rip-offs by giving you the best possible exchange rate.

This is because if you choose the local currency (in this case, PLN), your bank or card provider will do the currency conversion and apply the exchange rate.

But if you choose to have the transaction charged in GBP, this gives the ATM permission to give you an arbitrary (generally much more unfavourable) exchange rate for your withdrawal. So, it’s best avoided.

Check out the latest GBP to PLN conversion rates below:

Avoid airport ATMs

ATMs at airports tend to be very expensive, often charging high fees for withdrawing money or converting currency.

So even though it might seem the most convenient option, you may save money if you wait until you reach a city centre ATM.

Check whether your home bank has partner banks in Poland

If your UK bank has an overseas ATM network or partners with banks in Poland, you may be able to benefit from low or no fees on ATM withdrawals. It’s always worth a quick check before you travel.

Choose the right fee-free card

Many UK banks now offer fee-free spending and cash withdrawals overseas (although of course, you still need to watch out for ATM access fees).

If your bank doesn’t offer fee-free travel spending, it could be time to switch.

Another golden rule to remember is that unless it’s unavoidable, you should never withdraw cash using a credit card.

It’s usually much more expensive than using a debit card, as fees are charged for cash-based transactions. Plus, interest will likely start accruing right away, so you won’t benefit from your usual interest-free period.

Spend and withdraw worldwide with the Wise card

Love to travel? If you regularly spend time between countries, the Wise card could be your perfect travel companion.

It’s a dedicated contactless travel card, letting you spend like a local in 150+ countries worldwide. It automatically converts your pounds to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend.

And when you need cash, you can use it to withdraw up to £200 a month (max. 2 withdrawals) fee-free. You’ll just need to check whether the ATM operator charges its own fees.

Wise only ever charges small, transparent fees* for currency conversion, and it’s fee-free if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Sign up for a Wise account online and you can get your own Wise card for a one-time fee of just £7.

Sign up for a Wise account

ATMs in Poland FAQs

Can I use my UK debit card in Poland?

Yes, you should be fine to use your UK debit card in Poland, as both Visa and Mastercard international cards are accepted.

Is it best to use cash or card in Poland?

Debit cards are widely accepted in Poland, especially in larger towns and cities.

But you might still want to take a mix of cash and card to Poland for your trip. Having some zloty in your pocket could be useful for things like tipping, shopping at street markets, paying for public transport and if you’re visiting more remote parts of the country.

Should I tip in Poland?

Tipping is common in Poland, especially in restaurants, bars and for some other services. It’s not mandatory, but very much appreciated by small businesses and their workers.

Can you use contactless in Poland?

Contactless payments are becoming increasingly common in Poland, especially in major cities like Krakow and Warsaw.

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Sources used:

1. CIMAM - Currency in Poland
2. N26 - Using your card in Poland: The complete guide
3. Finder - Using a credit card in Poland

Sources last checked on date: 27-Nov-2024