Santander Bank Polska is the third-largest bank in Poland with 7.2 million customers. In 2026, Austria's Erste Group acquired a 49% controlling stake from Banco Santander — Banco Santander has exited the Polish retail market after 15 years. The Polish bank is expected to rebrand to Erste. The lowest cash loan APR at Santander Bank Polska is currently 8.18%.
Why choose Santander Bank Polska?
- Third-largest bank in Poland with new Erste Group strategic backing
- After acquisition — access to Erste's footprint in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia
- English-language mobile app and web banking
- Polish mortgages available to citizens earning in EUR, GBP, CHF and other EU currencies
- Konto Jakie Chcę with personalised features
- Mobile app with BLIK and contactless NFC
- Attractive welcome promotions for new customers — accounts with cash bonuses
- All existing contracts, accounts and loans remain unchanged after the ownership transfer
Editorial rating
- Offers 4.5
- Service 4.4
- Online banking 4.7
- Costs 4.4
About the bank Santander Bank Polska
Santander Bank Polska was founded in 1989 as Bank Zachodni (later BZ WBK — Bank Zachodni WBK). In 2011 it was acquired by the Spanish Banco Santander group, and in 2018 it adopted the current Santander Bank Polska name.
In May 2026 a strategic ownership change took place: Austria's Erste Group Bank AG completed the acquisition of a 49% controlling stake from Banco Santander. Banco Santander thereby exited the Polish retail market after 15 years. Erste Group — one of the largest banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe, with leading positions in Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania — became the new strategic owner. The "Santander" brand in Poland is expected to be gradually replaced by the Erste brand (no formal rebrand date has been announced); existing contracts, accounts, loans and cards remain in force without any action required from customers.
Santander Bank Polska (legally still under that name) serves 7.2 million retail and business customers in Poland. It offers a broad range of products: Konto Jakie Chcę personal accounts, cash loans, mortgages, credit cards, savings and investment products and business banking. The Santander mobile app is one of the highest-rated in Poland in terms of functionality and user experience.
For Polish residents abroad — particularly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the wider Central European region — the Erste Group ownership change is strategically positive. Erste is a German-speaking universal banking group with leading positions in Czechia (Česká spořitelna), Slovakia (Slovenská sporiteľňa), Hungary (Erste Bank Hungary), Romania (BCR), Croatia and Serbia. This makes the Polish bank a natural counterpart for Polish citizens living and earning in any of these countries. The mobile app and web banking offer English interfaces, EU residence documents are accepted in the verification flow alongside Polish ID, and the bank participates in SEPA Credit Transfer for euro-denominated transfers within the eurozone and EEA.
Polish citizens earning EUR, GBP or CHF income can continue to use the bank for Polish-property mortgages, with foreign-currency income accepted in creditworthiness calculations alongside documented employment contracts, tax returns and 12–24 months of bank statements. Polish-domestic services — BIK-recognised credit history, ZUS and Urząd Skarbowy integration — are available to diaspora customers. For multi-currency daily spending in the eurozone, fintech alternatives like Revolut or Wise typically offer tighter FX spreads; the bank's role is the Polish banking relationship that fintechs do not provide. Many cross-border Polish residents hold both.
Active offers
We show the currently active offers and always link to the latest version.
Cash loans
View all offers →Mój pierwszy kredyt
Santander Bank Polska
- APR
- 8.18%
- Amount
- 20,000 PLN
- Term
- 48 months
- Instalment
- 487 PLN
Consolidation loans
View all offers →Kredyt na powitanie
Santander Bank Polska
- APR
- 9.37%
- Amount
- 30,000 PLN
- Term
- 60 months
- Instalment
- 623 PLN
Personal accounts
View all offers →Konto Smart
Santander Bank Polska
- Monthly fee
- 0 – 6 PLN
Business accounts
View all offers →Konto Firmowe Online do 4500 zł premii
Santander Bank Polska
- Monthly fee
- Free
Pros and cons
Pros
- New strategic owner — Erste Group, one of the largest CEE banking groups
- Particularly relevant for Polish residents in Austria, Germany, Czechia and Slovakia
- English-language mobile app and web banking
- Polish mortgages for citizens earning in EUR, GBP, CHF
- Flexible personal account with a choice of free services
- Existing accounts, cards and loans unaffected by the ownership change
Cons
- Brand transition from "Santander" to "Erste" may cause short-term marketing confusion
- PLN-to-EUR FX spread wider than dedicated fintech FX providers
- Account fees rise if bonus conditions are not met
- Branch coverage smaller than PKO BP or Pekao
How to apply — Santander Bank Polska
Santander Bank Polska is Poland's third-largest bank. In 2026 Austria's Erste Group acquired a 49% controlling stake from Banco Santander.
- 1
Choose a Santander offer
Compare Santander Bank Polska products in our ranking — loans, accounts, cards, deposits.
- 2
Go to the bank
Click the CTA to go directly to the application page at Santander.
- 3
Fill in the application
Use the Santander mobile app, online banking or visit a branch. Prepare your ID.
- 4
Wait for a decision
Existing customers often receive a decision within minutes. New customers — usually the same or next business day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Santander Bank Polska changed ownership?
Yes. In May 2026 Austria's Erste Group Bank AG completed the acquisition of a 49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska from Banco Santander. Banco Santander has exited the Polish retail market. The bank will gradually rebrand to the Erste brand over the coming months — no formal rebrand date has yet been announced.
What changes for me as a customer after the Erste acquisition?
Practically nothing in the short term. All existing contracts, accounts, loans, cards and deposits remain in force with no action required from customers. Account numbers, BLIK, the mobile app, branches and ATMs continue to work as before. Over the coming months the bank plans a gradual visual rebrand to the Erste name, but core services stay the same.
What is Erste Group?
Erste Group Bank AG is one of the largest banking groups in Central and Eastern Europe, headquartered in Vienna. It serves over 16 million customers across Austria, Czechia (Česká spořitelna), Slovakia (Slovenská sporiteľňa), Hungary (Erste Bank Hungary), Romania (BCR), Croatia and Serbia. After acquiring Santander Bank Polska, Erste becomes one of the largest CEE banking groups by combined customer base.
Can I open an account from abroad after the Erste acquisition?
Yes. The bank supports remote account opening via mObywatel verification or selfie identity check. EU residence documents are accepted alongside Polish ID. The mobile app and web banking are available in English. The ownership change does not affect account opening procedures.
Is Santander Bank Polska the same bank as BZ WBK?
Yes — under the same legal entity. BZ WBK was acquired by Banco Santander in 2011 and rebranded to Santander Bank Polska in 2018. In 2026 a new ownership change took place (acquisition by Erste Group), but all earlier contracts, accounts and loans remain in force.
Does the bank support SEPA transfers to Germany, Austria and Czechia?
Yes. Standard SEPA Credit Transfer for euro-denominated transfers within the eurozone (Germany, Austria, France, Netherlands) and the EEA (Czechia, Croatia, etc.), with no SEPA fee for euro transfers. PLN-to-EUR conversion is applied at the bank's daily spread. After the Erste integration, group-level coordination with Erste entities in Austria/Czechia/Slovakia is expected to improve.
Can I get a Polish mortgage while working in Germany, Austria or the UK?
Yes. The bank accepts foreign-currency income (EUR, GBP, CHF, USD) in mortgage creditworthiness calculations. Polish citizens earning in Germany, Austria, the UK, the Netherlands or other EU countries commonly use the bank for property purchases in Poland.
How much does Konto Jakie Chcę cost?
Konto Jakie Chcę is free if you use your card or maintain regular deposits. Additional service packages (such as free foreign ATM withdrawals) can be added for a fee. Exact terms are on santander.pl.
What is the maximum loan amount?
The bank offers cash loans up to PLN 300,000 for customers with sufficient creditworthiness. Mortgage amounts are not capped — they depend on property value and income.
Is the bank safe after the ownership change?
Yes. The bank remains supervised by KNF, is a BFG member and deposits are insured up to EUR 100,000. The new strategic shareholder — Erste Group — is one of Europe's largest banking groups and is supervised by Austria's FMA and the European Central Bank under the EU Single Supervisory Mechanism.
What are deposit rates?
The bank regularly runs promotional deposits for new money at above-standard rates. Current rates are in our deposit ranking, refreshed in real time.
Other banks
kreddo.pl is an independent financial comparison service and is not a credit broker within the meaning of the Polish Consumer Credit Act. The data presented is pulled from bank APIs and updated in real time. Final loan terms are determined individually by the bank.