Mobile Portrait of the Pole: how we are most willing to pay

‘Mobile Portrait of a Pole’ is a survey commissioned by Bank Millennium's Public Relations Department, which provides detailed and up-to-date data on phone usage, e-banking, attitudes towards AI, online shopping and financial security, as well as favourite methods of paying for purchases.

The survey results show that fast electronic payments have completely dominated the internet. More than 40 percent of those surveyed pay for their online purchases most often by BLIK code (and as many as 55 percent use this payment method from time to time), and 20 percent - by quick transfer from a payment gateway (nearly half of those surveyed pay this way from time to time). Among other payment methods, respondents mentioned: self-ordered transfer, account card, credit card, digital wallet (among others Apple Pay or Google Pay), deferred payments and PayPal.

According to the ‘Mobile Portrait of a Pole’ survey, Poles are relying on modern payment methods not only online. As many as 80 per cent of respondents say they most often pay cashless in ordinary shops. Which cashless payment methods do the Poles choose? Most commonly an account card (41 per cent) or credit card (13 per cent), phone payments using a digital wallet, e.g. Apple Pay, Google Pay (12 per cent), phone payments using BLIK contactless (7 per cent), BLIK code (5 per cent), watch or payment band (1 per cent).

— These figures show the huge growth of cashless payments in recent times. Seven years ago, we conducted the first ‘Mobile Portrait of a Pole’ survey and at the time, more than 70 percent of respondents said they had never paid by phone and almost 60 percent had never used BLIK. According to experts, we are at the global forefront in terms of the use of modern payment methods and we even stand out in Europe. A report published in January 2025 by the European Central Bank and partners showed that cash was holding strong in the EUR zone, with a staggering 52 per cent of transactions made in this way. With us the trend is opposite’ - says Iwona Jarzębska, Head of the Public Relations Department at Bank Millennium.

The survey also provides information on why Poles are increasingly giving up cash. They point to the convenience of cashless payments - 23 per cent of them simply do not like to pay with cash, and 10 per cent even state that for them cash might not exist.

— In Poland, the popularity of cashless payments is an effect of several key factors. Firstly, the development of payment technology is at a very high level. We use state-of-the-art solutions that are fast and safe. The widespread implementation of contactless payments, which are much more convenient, has also played its part. Secondly, payment terminals are widely available, even in small shops and service outlets, and entrepreneurs have been and are being actively encouraged to install them. Thirdly, the whole payment revolution would not have happened if it were not for the attitude of the Poles, who are eager to use new technologies and are open to financial innovations - explains Tomasz Perski, head of the Customer Solutions Development Team - Cards and Payments in the Electronic Banking Department at Bank Millennium.

The survey shows that most Poles approach the existence of cash practically. 54 per cent of respondents sometimes pay by cash and sometimes by card, BLIK code or phone. How do they explain it? One in three respondents declare that they only use cash when payment in another form is not possible. 39 per cent of respondents are guided by their convenience or pay the way they happen to have money at the time - sometimes cash, sometimes cashless. In contrast, 44 per cent of survey participants take a pragmatic approach to payments and believe that it is always a good idea to have some cash just in case.

More than 60 per cent of respondents say they reach for cash from time to time in ordinary shops. Cash is also the second most popular payment method after the account card. As many as 20 per cent of respondents say that this is the main payment method for them in-store.

Why this attachment to the traditional wallet? Twenty-five per cent of respondents feel that by paying in cash they have more control over their spending. 12 per cent of respondents feel safer with this payment method because they fear theft of their card and money from their account. Poles also keep their savings in cash, with one in 10 respondents admitting to this.

The "Mobile Portrait of a Pole" survey was carried out on 25-29 October 2024 by the Ogólnopolski Panel Badawczy Ariadna research panel commissioned by the Bank Millennium Public Relations team on a representative sample of 1068 people using the CAWI method.

See also:

• Mobilny Portret Polaka - purchases and payments link otwiera się w nowym oknie
• Mobile Portrait of a Pole - mobile phones link otwiera się w nowym oknie
• Mobile Portrait of a Pole - banking link otwiera się w nowym oknie
• Mobile Portrait of a Pole - online security link otwiera się w nowym oknie
• Mobile Portrait of a Pole - AI link otwiera się w nowym oknie

More information: www.bankmillennium.pl link otwiera się w nowym oknie