{"id":513964,"date":"2026-01-31T17:20:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T14:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reform.news\/?p=513964"},"modified":"2026-01-31T19:36:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T16:36:01","slug":"poland-s-financial-ombudsman-sends-inquiries-to-banks-over-account-openings-for-belarusians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reform.news\/en\/poland-s-financial-ombudsman-sends-inquiries-to-banks-over-account-openings-for-belarusians","title":{"rendered":"Poland\u2019s Financial Ombudsman Sends Inquiries to Banks Over Account Openings for Belarusians"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Belarusian Solidarity Center (BSC) has appealed to Poland\u2019s Financial Ombudsman over refusals to open bank accounts faced by Belarusians.<\/p>\n

According to the BSC, for more than a month former political prisoners released on December 13, 2025, and currently staying in Poland, have been unable to open bank accounts.<\/p>\n

The head of the BSC\u2019s legal assistance department, Volha Dabravolskaya<\/b>, raised the issue with Poland\u2019s Financial Ombudsman (Rzecznik Finansowy). In response, the ombudsman sent official inquiries to three major Polish banks \u2014 PKO BP S.A., Bank Millennium S.A., and Santander Bank Polska S.A.<\/p>\n

In particular, the ombudsman asked the banks to clarify whether a temporary foreigner\u2019s identity document can serve as grounds for opening a bank account, and whether it is possible to introduce special procedures that would facilitate access to banking services for Belarusian citizens, including former political prisoners seeking international protection in Poland.<\/p>\n

In addition, the Financial Ombudsman approached the Polish Bank Association with a proposal to consider changing the general practice of opening accounts for Belarusian citizens in similar situations.<\/p>\n

The ombudsman promised to inform the Belarusian Solidarity Center of the results of consultations both with individual banks and with the Polish Bank Association.<\/p>\n