Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 27.7% APR (variable).
As a member of the European Union, Poland – which translates as “the land of fields” – is as safe as it gets for credit card use. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in the country, but you’ll also find some places that take Amex too.
Credit card acceptance out in the sticks is surprisingly good too, especially if those rural locations are considered tourist attractions.
You shouldn’t be asked to show ID when paying with a credit card (as is the case for visitors to some countries), and you won’t need to sign your name when you make payments either.
It’s fine to make even tiny purchases using a credit card in Poland. Polish corner shops all accept card payments and sell delicious and very cheap pastries (we recommend the Bułka z makiem). Tap your card for a 50-Grosz (£0.09) roll and you won’t have an angry shopkeeper on your hands. Pierogi, savoury or sweet filled dumplings, are the go-to dish in Poland and you can usually pay for them by card.
If you’re using public transport in the cities, you can simply hop on a tram or bus, tap your credit card and sit down. However, not all taxis take credit card (although there’s always Uber and Taxify) so you’ll probably want to carry some cash.
As you’d expect, there are a few potential fees to watch out for when you’re paying with plastic in Poland.
It’s also worth noting that when it comes to cash advances and non-sterling transactions, many card issuers will start charging interest on the day your account is debited, rather than the customary “up to 55 days interest-free” that usually applies provided you clear your balance in full each month.
Consider taking out a credit card offering commission-free currency conversion (see table below), even if you only use it when you’re out of the country. These cards will convert currency at the standard Mastercard or Visa rates
Once you have one of these cards, if a merchant offers to take payment in pounds, say you’re happy to pay in zloty, since you know that your own bank won’t add a margin.
Generally speaking, it’s not a great idea to use credit cards to withdraw cash, but some travel credit cards won’t penalise you for this either. Finally, make sure to check whether any ATM you use is going to charge a fee (thankfully this is rare in Poland). High street bank ATMs are generally a safer bet than those in convenience stores or bars. ATMs are more or less the same as at home, and all have English as a language option as soon as you put your card in (even if you use a Polish card).
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Merchants may additionally levy a surcharge for Amex payments.
Card payments in Poland almost all effectively use a contactless and pin payment method: most shops have a pin pad terminal that is contactless only, so if you have to use the chip or mag-stripe, they’ll usually take the card off you and use a separate terminal behind the counter (sometimes they hand you the terminal and sometimes they’ll put it in behind the counter and it links to the contactless pin pad on your side of the counter).
In Poland, contactless with no pin works for any amount up to 50zl (£9.50) and after that you’ll need to enter your pin.
As far as safety goes, you can freely use your card in Poland. However, there are some precautions you can take for increased security:
If you travel to Poland, you can safely use your credit card to make payments and withdraw cash. You’ll just have to be careful to not incur fees you can otherwise avoid. With a decent travel credit card, you’ll avoid paying foreign transaction fees. Then, by simply declining the DCC when offered, you’ll also avoid a poor exchange rate or commission.
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