Polish bank PKO verified Belarusian without residence permit and unblocked her account access
Maria (name changed) had her account blocked by the Polish bank PKO on December 12 — before that, like many Belarusians, she received a message via the mobile app about the need to provide a valid residence permit. She doesn't have one, as she is awaiting international protection in Poland. Nevertheless, the bank unblocked her access to the mobile app and account when she brought a temporary foreigner identity certificate (TZTC). The publication Most studied her case and the experience of other Belarusians.
Illustrative photo. Photo: bankier.pl
Maria opened her account before October 23, 2025, using a TZTC — a document issued to a foreigner for the period of consideration of an international protection case. But the previous card expired on December 11, and the Belarusian woman did not yet have a new one. Therefore, she could not appear at the PKO branch in time for verification.
From December 12, her access to the account, mobile application, and instant BLIK payments was blocked.
But recently, a new TZTC certificate arrived. And although it's not a residence card (DNR), which the bank requested, Maria decided to try her luck at the branch. The document was accepted and entered into the database, after which all functions were restored.
Most is also aware of several cases of Belarusians who do not have a residence permit, and they opened their account with a Belarusian passport before October 23, 2025. They currently retain access to their account and all transactions.
It can be assumed that problems arose for those whose document, with which the account was originally opened, had expired.
In early December, many Belarusians received messages from Bank PKO about the possible blocking of account operations if they did not provide the following valid documents: a residence permit or a passport of Poland or other EU countries, the European Economic Area, Switzerland. The bank referred to the EU Council resolution of October 23, 2025, concerning restrictive measures in connection with the situation in Belarus and Belarus's involvement in Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
Later, a PKO representative explained that this would only affect citizens of Belarus who opened an account on or after October 24, 2025. Later, some clients began to receive new notifications, with the deadline for document verification specified as January 5, 2026.
Comments