Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet and head of the National Anti-Crisis Management Pavel Latushka has submitted an appeal to Poland’s Financial Supervision Authority (KNF), requesting clarification over Polish banks blocking mobile banking applications of Belarusian citizens.
Banks have been disabling access for Belarusians who do not hold a valid residence permit.
The appeal was filed on 19 November. On 4 December Latushka also requested a meeting with the management of PKO Bank Polski to discuss the issue.
According to the NAU, Latushka explained in his letters that thousands of Belarusians legally reside in Poland and are awaiting further legalisation under residence-permit procedures. Their lawful stay follows from Article 108 of the Law on Foreigners, which states that a foreigner’s stay is considered legal from the moment of submitting an application until the decision becomes final.
The appeal stresses that banks’ references to EU sanctions as grounds for refusing service to Belarusians without a valid residence permit constitute unjustified and excessive compliance. Such reasoning, the NAU notes, cannot justify blocking mobile banking applications or accounts of Belarusians who legally reside in Poland.
Additional appeals have been sent to the Polish Financial Ombudsman, as well as to the European External Action Service and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (FISMA).
A further request was addressed to the KNF regarding cases in which banks refused to open or extend accounts on the basis of a Temporary Foreigner Identity Certificate (TZTC). Earlier, in response to a request by Latushka, the KNF confirmed in writing (letter of 17 June 2025) that the TZTC is an identity document that can be used to open a bank account. Following that clarification, Belarusians applying for international protection began to have accounts opened on the basis of the TZTC.