Poland is steadily advancing toward becoming a cashless society, as demonstrated by the "Polska Bezgotówkowa" initiative, which has seen over half a million entrepreneurs and institutions adopt digital payment solutions. This transformation aligns with the broader trend of digitizing public administration processes, reflected by the installation of more than 667,000 devices for accepting digital payments across the country.
The "Polska Bezgotówkowa" program has proven significant since its inception, providing support to over 3,000 public and local government institutions, resulting in the financing of more than 16,000 payment terminals. Among these, over 8,500 have been installed directly within offices. The year 2024 alone saw 216 new public institutions join the initiative, with the rollout of 1,186 new terminals, of which 520 were dedicated to various governmental offices.
Currently, the highest concentration of payment terminals is found in Warsaw with 270 devices and Mińsk County with 253. Interestingly, the highest ratio of terminals per 1,000 residents has been recorded in Hrubieszów, Lipsk, and Namysłów counties. This increase is not only beneficial for administrative efficiency, but it also signifies changing consumer preferences for digital payment options.
“Digital payment solutions and systems are becoming increasingly common and desired by citizens due to the conveniences they offer - enhancing access to public administration and facilitating the resolution of various administrative matters, both onsite and remotely,” said Zbigniew Wiśniewski, Vice President of the Board of the "Polska Bezgotówkowa" Foundation.
The initiative offers free access to payment terminals supporting electronic payments within public spaces, such as schools, cultural centers, theaters, libraries, and parking lots. Wiśniewski elaborated, "Electronic solutions will not only simplify daily tasks for residents but may also impact the revenue from fees. Many individuals will no longer forgo services solely due to the lack of their preferred payment method."
Beyond just payment terminals, digital payments at government offices are becoming more sophisticated. An increasing number of municipalities are implementing the "mObywatel" application, which enables residents to manage payments conveniently. More local governments are also enabling cashless payments through their websites or via QR codes, integrating new technologies as part of the smart city and smart village concepts.
The "Polska Bezgotówkowa" program incentivizes various institutions from public administration to try out cashless payment solutions without incurring any installation, usage, or maintenance costs for payment terminals, including those on mobile devices. Through this program, public institutions can also receive funding for services facilitating online transactions without the physical use of cards, especially via the "mObywatel" application or services paid through institutional websites.
Public entities can apply for more than one free device if they operate multiple cash points. This program, unique to Poland, only allows each institution to participate once, and those already benefiting cannot re-enroll.
Eligible entities for the "Polska Bezgotówkowa" program encompass local government units, central public institutions, and entities dependent on local governments, such as public schools, kindergartens, cultural centers, municipal police, offices, museums, theaters, budgetary establishments, public hospitals, archives, inspectors, and governmental agencies.
To participate, interested parties can fill out an application on the "Polska Bezgotówkowa" Foundation’s website. This shift toward cashless systems not only emphasizes how digital solutions can expedite processes but also encourages improved service quality for citizens and business owners alike. For municipal governments, this initiative reinforces the move toward smart urban planning, promoting the installation of self-service payment modules linked to various devices working for public institutions. The goal is to heighten the availability of cashless payment forms at public locations, enhancing user convenience and streamlining administrative processes.
This program financially supports the acquisition and installation of payment modules for self-service machines and devices, which play key roles within municipal infrastructures and public institutions. Examples of such machines include public payment machines, parking meters, ticket machines, and recycling machines.
With increasing expectations for digital service accessibility, both companies and public offices must adapt rapidly to these changes. The "Polska Bezgotówkowa" program not only signals Poland's commitment to modernization through cashless payments but also reflects how technological innovation can improve everyday interactions between citizens and their government.
With the continuous rise of digital solutions, the Polish administration envisages increasing reliance on cashless transactions, promising to deliver enhanced convenience for the public and efficiency for government operations.