Polish financial market is undergoing one of the most ambitious transformations in recent years. Santander Bank Polska officially completes the process of integration into the Austrian banking group Erste Group and changes its name to Erste Bank Polska.
This rebranding is part of Erste Group's long-term development strategy in Central and Eastern Europe. For customers, this means access to new banking technologies, including the George digital platform, as well as full integration into the European financial ecosystem.
What should customers expect during the renaming period?
During the technical transition (April 2026), the bank warns of possible temporary restrictions in the operation of services:
Online banking and mobile applications: short-term technical interruptions are possible.
Card transactions: payments at terminals and cash withdrawals may be interrupted.
Access to services: certain functions of the accounts may be temporarily unavailable.
Account details, including IBAN, usually remain unchanged.
Existing contracts, bank cards and terms of service will continue to apply automatically.
New opportunities with Erste Bank Polska
Integration into the Erste Group opens up new horizons for customers. With a history spanning over 200 years, the Group is strengthening its presence in Poland and bringing modern European standards of service.
Key benefits:
Simplified international transfers within the group (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania).
Extended lending opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs)
Modern compliance procedures fully adapted to international operations.
How will this affect account opening in Poland?
Integration into the Austrian group entails a significant update of internal regulations.
The rebranding directly affects the process of opening an account in Poland, especially for foreigners, non-residents and international business owners.
The market analysis shows that Erste Group traditionally adheres to strict European security standards, which will be reflected in the following aspects:
Depth KYC and AML. Know Your Customer procedures are becoming multi-level. The bank now analyzes in more detail not only the applicant's identity, but also the company's ownership structure (UBO) and the real connection of the business with the Polish economy (Substance).
Sources of funds (SoW/SoF). Unlike in previous years, in 2026, Erste Bank will require documentary proof of capital even for small transactions. This applies to both personal savings and corporate revenue.
Document Standardization Now, for successful compliance, it is critical that all foreign documents have proper legalization and a certified translation by a sworn translator.
This means that a bank account in Poland for a non-resident now requires not just a passport, but the formation of a full-fledged financial profile of the client.
We are witnessing the transition of Polish banking to a qualitatively new level. The change of Santander to Erste is not just a change of sign, but the introduction of the Austrian conservative model of customer verification.
On the one hand, this complicates the identification process at the initial stage, but on the other hand, the client receives an account in a bank that has one of the best reputations in the EU. For businesses, this means fewer questions from correspondent banks when making large international SWIFT transfers. Our role now is to become a conduit between the client and the bank's new strict standards to minimize the risk of rejection - says Iryna Kucheryava, Managing Partner of Maira Consult and a leading expert on compliance in the Polish banking system.
How to open an account with Erste Bank Polska with Maira Consult quickly?
The transition from Santander Bank Polska to Erste Bank Polska is a strategic step that strengthens the bank's position in the European market, but at the same time requires more attention to legal details from clients.
The Maira Consult team has already adapted its processes to the new requirements of Erste Bank Polska and accompanies clients at all stages of interaction with the updated financial institution.
We will help you:
Prepare a full package of documents for opening a personal or corporate account.
Pass a Compliance check without the risk of refusal.
Provide legal support for working with EU banks on a turnkey basis.
The transition from Santander to Erste Bank is a signal of increased stability and expanded opportunities for international work through Poland.
