VBK Bank Zakhodnya in Poland is one of the most successful Polish banks with a strong position in the financial services market. The reliability of this financial institution is evidenced by its long history and constantly growing financial performance. In addition, the bank offers a full range of services for both individuals and companies. Thanks to this, the bank's services are in demand not only among Poles, but also among foreigners permanently residing in Poland.
About bank BZ WBK
Bank Zakhodnya VBK (BZ WBK) is one of the largest commercial banks in Poland. Its main office is located in the city of Wroclaw, and there are about 900 of its branches throughout the country.
The bank was established in 2001 as a result of the merger of Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy S.A and Bank Zachodni S.A. In 2021, it became part of the largest Spanish financial and credit group Grupo Santander, with a total capitalization of about 70 billion euros.
BZ WBK occupies a leading position in Poland in terms of security, as well as in the provision of electronic services.
The bank enjoys great confidence among its clients due to its high financial indicators - in terms of assets, the bank ranks third in the country (after PKO BP and Pekao).
Despite the fact that the general indicators of the financial services market in Poland tend to fall, the assets of Bank Zakhodnya are steadily increasing. Along with them, the number of clients is also increasing, of which there are already more than 3 million people by 2021.
Bank services for individuals and legal entities
The bank provides services for both individuals and legal entities. Standard services for individuals are:
- opening bank accounts;
- asset Management;
- issuing credit / debit cards;
- providing loans, including mortgages;
- provision of travel insurance;
- home insurance;
- mobile and internet banking (BZ WBK24);
- transfer of funds abroad (Western Union, Polecenie wypłaty);
- access to investment project management.
Legal entities can use the following services at the bank:
- opening company accounts;
- asset Management;
- issuance of loans;
- issuance of bank cards;
- leasing services;
- factoring;
- insurance;
- management of investment funds;
- collection;
- transfer of money abroad;
- mobile and internet banking.
Issuance of loans
Zakhodnya Bank issues cash loans to a Visa Silver credit card, as well as to a World Mastercard. The decision to issue a loan depends on the result of an individual assessment of the client's creditworthiness and credit risk carried out by Zachodni WBK S.A.
In general, the bank can offer its clients loans 20 times more than their net income - up to PLN 150 thousand, with a maturity of up to 120 months.
The annual loan rate can range from 4.99 to 10%, depending on the amount, loan term and the method of determining the interest rate.
To get a cash loan at Zachodni WBK bank, you need:
- live in Poland;
- be of legal age and fully capable, acquire and assume legal and civil rights and obligations on their own behalf;
- have a stable and documented source of income (if you are in business, you can apply for a cash loan at any branch of Zachodni WBK Bank only in person);
- have creditworthiness, that is, the ability to repay the loan, taken together with interest, during the contractual maturity.
To obtain a loan, a foreigner will need:
- passport and other available identity documents, including PESEL (identification number of persons living in Poland);
- information about the current employer, in particular, his name, address, telephone number, taxpayer identification number, number in the Register of the National Economy REGON (it is indicated, for example, on the company seal);
- data on average net income for the last three months;
- data on loans received and other financial liabilities;
- the date of the conclusion of the employment contract or the date of retirement;
- If you do not know the average income for the last three months, ask your employer to calculate this amount or fill out a profit and loss statement.
Bank Zakhodnya also offers its clients mortgage loans for buying an apartment / house or building their own home.
Savings accounts and deposits
Zakhodnya Bank offers its clients the opportunity to keep money in a savings account or as a deposit.
Payments and withdrawals from the savings account can be made at any time without loss of interest. The interest rate on the accounts is variable and is provided on an annual basis. Interest is added monthly from the first day of the next calendar month.
By opening a savings account with Zakhodnya Bank, you can access your account through the electronic system BZ WBK24.
In addition to the savings account, the bank offers such types of deposits as:
- mobile deposit,
- electronic deposit,
- time deposit,
- foreign currency deposit,
- bonus deposit,
- rental deposit,
- deposit by agreement.
Opening an account for foreigners
There are several ways to open an account in "Bank Zakhodnya VBK":
- at a bank branch;
- through the Internet;
- by phone;
- by ordering a call.
At the bank branch
The procedure for opening a bank account at Zakhodnya Bank is quite simple. This will require:
- international passport;
- one of the following documents: certificate from the employer in Poland / document confirming stay in the country on the basis of study / residence card or other document confirming the right to reside in Poland on a permanent basis (for example, a visa in the passport);
- sign an agreement.
Through the Internet
Unfortunately, only the Polish version of the application is available on the website, but in fact, the procedure for opening an account via the Internet is quite simple, even for those who do not know Polish. So, follow the instructions below:
- Go to the bank's website using the link. On the page to the right, in the green column, select the first cell with the text “przez Internet” (via the Internet).
- You will be presented with a page for filling out an online application for opening an account.
- Choose the type of card - Dopasowana Visa, Dopasowana Mastercard or the option to open an account without a card.
- Choose the method of opening an account - a video call with a consultant / using an online transfer from an account in another bank / via a courier.
- Video call. The operation is available only for devices equipped with a camera. Check the technical equipment required for the video call. Prepare your passport so that the consultant can verify your identity during the video call. During the conversation, the contract and the NIK number for entering the electronic bank will be shown. Remember to save it. Your account will be activated later.
- Using an online transfer from an account with another bank. To verify your identity, you need to make a transfer of PLN 1 from a bank in Poland with which you already have an account. You can make a transfer from an account in one of the following banks:
- mBank;
- Bank Pekao;
- BZWBK;
- ALIOR BANK;
- T-Mobile Usługi Bankowe;
- Euro Bank;
- Bank Spółdzielczy we Wschowie (NET BANK);
- Raiffeisen Bank Polska.
- Upon successful verification of your identity, the new account will be activated, which will inform you by email and text message. The package of documents will be sent to the email address specified in the application.
- Via a courier. After completing the application, the contract for signing will be delivered to you by a courier, with whom you can make an appointment at a convenient time. To meet with the courier, you should prepare a passport so that he can confirm your identity. You will sign the contract in his presence. Your account will be activated after the courier delivers the documents to the bank. You will be informed about this by SMS and e-mail.
- In the case of a transfer from an account in another bank or through a courier, you will need to download the first and second pages of your identity card (passport). Attachment formats: jpg, png, jpeg, size - maximum 5 MB.
- Enter your personal data: first name, middle name (if such is indicated on your ID), last name, citizenship (Polish is automatically selected in the system), country of origin.
- Enter your address of residence in Poland.
- Please provide an address for correspondence. Here you need to choose from two points - the same as the address of residence, or specify a different address.
- Enter your contact information. You will receive one-time codes via SMS to the phone number you specified, which are necessary to confirm Internet transactions. Then you need to enter your email twice. You should carefully enter your email address, since the contract will be sent to it.
- Next, you need to answer whether you have tax obligations in countries other than Poland. If you answer “no”, you just go to the next step. If your answer is “yes”, you will be asked to indicate the country in which you pay taxes, as well as your personal tax number. By marking “yes”, you hereby give your consent to the transfer of your personal data to authorized organizations in accordance with Polish law.
- The last step is to put a checkmark in front of the proposed fields, thereby giving consent to all of the following statements:
- Go to the bank's website using the link. On the page to the right, in the green column, select the first cell with the text “przez Internet” (via the Internet).
- consent to the processing of personal data (required);
- consent to contact regarding the execution of the application and the provision of banking rules, including the payment of the commission (required);
- consent to be contacted electronically for marketing purposes (optional);
- consent to telephone contact for marketing purposes (optional);
- consent to the delivery of the contract to the e-mail address (mandatory in case of opening an account via the Internet. If you do not agree to receive the contract to the e-mail address, then in the third paragraph you should choose the method of registration through the courier).
- The full text of the agreement is attached to each of the statements below.
- At the bottom of the page, click the red button. Depending on the design method you have chosen, the button will be written either WYŚLIJ WNIOSEK (Send a request), or PRZEJDŹ DO WYKONANIA PRZELEWU (Proceed to transfer). The transfer from another bank will take place on the Blue Media website. After checking the translation, a contract will be sent to the email address specified in the application.
- By phone
To open a bank account, you need to call 19999.
- By ordering a call
On the official website of the bank, clients who speak Russian or Ukrainian can also leave a request for a call back.
Click the "Request a call" button. The system will prompt you to fill out an application form, in which you need to indicate your name, phone number and mark your consent to a telephone contact. The consultant will contact you within two days.
Card activation
Bank Zakhodnya cards are issued to blocked clients. In order to start using them, you first need to unlock them. There are three ways to do this:
- Contact the bank branch. You can ask the bank employees to unblock the card when you issue it at the branch. You can also come and ask for card activation if you received it by mail or courier.
- Through an ATM "Bank Zakhodnya". To unblock the card, insert it into the ATM and select the activation operation.
- Through the BZ WBK24 system. If you are already a user of the Internet banking system "Come in", then to activate the card you need to log in to the system 24. To do this, you need to follow the link. Next, you will be prompted to enter your NIK (customer identification number). It can be found in the contract “Electronic banking services BZWBK24”. If the account was created online or by phone, you will receive a password during a conversation with a consultant or by mail. If the account was created at a branch of the bank, you will receive a password in a sealed envelope from a consultant. If you do not remember the password, you must visit any branch of the BZ WBK to create a new one. If you have not signed a contract for electronic banking services yet, visit any branch of BZ WBK, and a bank consultant will activate the services of BZ WBK24 for you.
Service rates
Tariffs for basic services of Zakhodnya Bank in 2021 are presented in the table below:
| Type of service | Tariffs |
|---|---|
| Debit card opening | 0 zł |
| Contents of the card with zloty | 0 zł |
| Card recovery | 15 zł |
| Transferring money to the account of another bank | 2.5 zł - for clients up to 26 years old, 5 zł - for clients over 26 years old |
| Transfer of money to the account of "Bank Zakhodnya" | 0 zł |
| Transfer through the SORBNET system | 35 zł |
| Withdrawal at ATMs of the BZ WBK24 system | 0 zł |
| Cash withdrawal at branches | 5 zł - for clients up to 26 years old, 10 zł - for clients over 26 years old |
| Cash withdrawal from ATMs abroad | 2% and not less than 20 zł |
| Contents of the currency card (in euros) | 10 € per year |
| Withdrawing money from a currency card at ATMs of the BZ WBK24 network | 0.25 |
| Withdrawing money from a currency card in Poland at ATMs of other banks | 2.5 |
| Withdrawing money from a currency card abroad | 2.5 |
Despite the information indicated in the table, it should be borne in mind that the tariffs for services in the bank are constantly changing, so you need to find out about them immediately before registering a particular service.
Other major banks in Poland
In addition to "Bank Zakhodnya" there are other banks in Poland, in which foreigners can open accounts. The largest of them are PKO Bank Polski SA, Bank Pekao and MBank.
PKO Bank Polski SA (Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski Spółka Akcyjna) is the largest bank in Poland in terms of assets. In 2021, the bank's assets amounted to PLN 167.2 billion; in the same year, the bank was included in the list of two thousand largest public companies in the world according to Forbes magazine.
Bank Pekao is the second largest bank in Poland in terms of assets, established in 1929 to serve Polish emigrants. It was the first bank in the country to use ATMs, issued the first credit card, opened a brokerage house, and introduced biometrics to the banking industry.
MBank is another large and successful bank in Poland. It has been participating in the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 1992. The main (parent) company of the bank is the German banking concern Commerzbank.
Popular questions
In the process of deciding to open a bank account in the Polish bank Zakhodnya, some questions may arise. We offer answers to those that are asked most often.
Can I open an account with VBC through another bank?
You can open an account in Zakhodnia through another bank if it has already been opened in one of such banks as: mBank, Bank Pekao, BZWBK, ALIOR BANK, T-Mobile Usługi Bankowe, Euro Bank, Bank Spółdzielczy we Wschowie (NET BANK), Raiffeisen Bank Polska.
What is the Dopasowana card?
Dopasowana is a type of card offered by Zakhodnya Bank, which allows its holders to choose a payment method. If you pay with the card at least PLN 500 or at least five times a month, then the payment for the card will not be charged. Otherwise, the card will be charged at PLN 5 per month (transactions of the Quasi Cash type will not be counted).
Can I send money from an account abroad?
From the Zahodnya bank account, you can send money abroad via Western Union or Polecenie wypłaty. In the first case, the recipient does not need to have a bank account in his home country, and in the second case, it is possible to choose who pays for the shipment - you or the recipient abroad. These services can be ordered either during a personal visit to the bank, or through the BZWBK24 system.
Conclusion
Bank Zakhodnya is one of the largest and most successful banks in Poland. It is very popular among foreigners living in Poland. The financial institution offers its clients a wide range of services, including opening an account, issuing loans (including mortgage loans), providing insurance, the ability to keep money on a deposit, and many others.
Immigrants can also use the bank's services, including opening an account here. Moreover, this operation is available even online.To do this, just fill out an online application on the bank's website and follow simple instructions.
