Major Polish banks are preparing for planned system maintenance this weekend, which is expected to disrupt services for thousands of clients across the country. The three largest banks affected by this event include PKO BP, Santander Bank Polska, and ING Bank Śląski, each laying out specific schedules for when customers might encounter issues accessing their banking services.
According to reports from TVN24, the first significant disturbances will begin with PKO BP. The bank announced scheduled maintenance on its mobile application IKO and electronic banking service iPKO during the early hours of Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 00:30 to 05:00. During this time, clients will be unable to submit requests via these platforms, though ordinary card transactions will not be affected.
"On Saturday and Sunday, from 22:00 to 22:00, customers may experience temporary access issues with the IKO app and iPKO," the bank stated. While disruptions are anticipated, it's possible for some customers to access their accounts without noticing any issues. The bank reassured, "Payment cards, including contactless payments via smartphones and smartwatches, will function without problems during this maintenance."
Another significant player, Santander Bank Polska, has also outlined its maintenance schedule, commencing on Friday, February 21, at 23:00 and continuing until Saturday, February 22, at 08:00. During this downtime, core services such as mobile banking, internet banking, and BLIK (a mobile payment solution popular in Poland) will be unavailable.
"This maintenance will also involve limitations on internet transactions from 00:00 to 06:00 on February 23," the bank confirmed, adding customers will not see their cards or manage them through mobile or online banking during this time. Customers can still use their cards for payments at stores and online throughout the weekend, albeit with significant restrictions on banking operations.
ING Bank Śląski sets its maintenance for Monday, February 24, from 00:01 to 03:00, when clients will encounter challenges using ATMs, unable to make transactions or deposits with cards and BLIK at various locations. "We advise our clients to prepare accordingly, as there will be limitations during this time concerning our services, especially for ATM operations," stated representatives from the bank.
Other banks, including mBank and Alior Bank, also plan service interruptions due to scheduled maintenance within this timeframe. mBank has indicated its eMakler and mBank Giełda will not be accessible on Saturday, February 22, between 07:00 and 16:00, impacting clients interested in trading activities.
Meanwhile, Alior Bank has announced service interruptions for its Currency Exchange service, set from February 21 at 22:00 until February 22 at 04:00. Yet, the bank emphasizes these disruptions will not affect ATM operations or card transactions.
Notably, Nest Bank has also alerted its customers of upcoming maintenance, stating internet banking and mobile application services will be offline on Saturday, February 22, from 00:30 to 06:00. During this period, customers will find it impossible to log in, modify transaction limits, or execute payments through the mobile platforms.
Despite these extensive maintenance windows, banks have indicated customers will still be able to transact using payment cards, including options like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or other card-based systems at physical locations.
It’s clear these events highlight the banks' efforts to modernize and maintain the core systems required for secure and efficient banking. Nevertheless, these transitions also serve as timely reminders for customers to prepare for potential service disruptions. Setting up alternate payment methods or ensuring cash availability could mitigate impact during these maintenance periods.
Overall, affected clients across Poland are advised to keep these schedules in mind and plan accordingly to navigate the upcoming banking service interruptions.