More and more places in Poland quit accepting cash payments for non-cash transactions. Does that mean no more cash? Where can we not pay with bills now? And what's ahead?
Changes in the payment marketplace in Poland
According to the National Bank of Poland, in 2023 non-cash transactions accounted for over 70% of all payments made in Poland. Currently, all another Pole uses non-cash payments regularly, and the number of people who like conventional cash payments is constantly decreasing. According to a survey conducted by Mastercard, 83% of Poles believe that non-cash payments are safe and more convenient than conventional banknotes.
The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to this trend – in fear of contact with cash and transmission of the virus, many people switched to close-up payments. The increase of transaction limits without the usage of PIN to PLN 100 besides affected the increase in popularity of specified forms of payment.
Where won't you pay in cash?
The phenomenon of cash elimination from regular transactions is increasingly visible in Poland. Here are the most crucial places where you won't pay with banknotes anymore:
- Parking spaces – In many Polish cities, specified as Warsaw, Kraków or Wrocław, parkometers were introduced, accepting only non-cash payments. alternatively of coins, you can pay by card or utilizing mobile applications.
- Public transport – In any cities specified as Gdynia and Łódź, tickets in public transport are only available in electronic form. Bilettoms only accept payment cards and cash becomes little and little accepted.
- Self-service fuel stations – Modern gas stations operating without service already operate in many places in Poland. Customers can refuel their own fuel, but they will only pay for it with a payment card or BLIK.
- Online shops and e-commerce platforms – Cash payments are incorrect in the network. Online shops like card payments, fast net transfers and systems specified as PayPal or BLIC.
Changes in law and cash
Although many places quit cash, the law inactive protects consumers. In Poland, any company, even if it prefers non-cash transactions, must accept cash. However, more and more entrepreneurs usage the legal gap, placing clear messages that they do not accept cash payments. In the future, specified rules may be tightened, making cash only an alternate to the few.
Is Poland moving towards a non-cash society?
Although Poland seems to be heading towards a non-cash society, the full elimination of cash from circulation is inactive improbable to happen soon. In Nordic countries, specified as Sweden or Norway, non-cash transactions account for almost 100% of the turnover, but the population there is more advanced digitally.
Poland is gradually approaching this model, but cash inactive takes place – especially in smaller towns, where access to modern forms of payment can be limited. Many people, especially older ones, inactive like banknotes as a form of payment.
What will the future bring?
The future of payments in Poland will depend on respective factors. The increasing number of innovations in the financial sector, the improvement of mobile applications and proximity payment systems will surely contribute to further digitisation. In the following years we may see more and more places where cash payments will be completely eliminated.
This means greater safety and comfort for entrepreneurs. In turn, customers gain velocity and flexibility in how to make payments. On the another hand, the full elimination of cash can origin problems for people who are digitally excluded or who have difficulty accessing modern technologies.
The end of cash is simply a subject that stimulates mixed feelings. On the 1 hand, the improvement of modern payment methods brings many benefits, on the another hand, excludes certain social groups. Poland is getting closer to the non-cash society, but cash inactive has its place in the payment system, especially in smaller towns.
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No more cash: Where and erstwhile will you not pay in Poland?
