Customers of three major banks in Poland, PKO BP, ING Bank Śląski, and mBank, are preparing for significant disruptions in accessing their financial resources due to scheduled technical breaks this weekend. With many essential banking services going offline, clients are urged to take precautions to avoid unnecessary inconveniences.
PKO BP, the largest financial institution in the country, announced that it will conduct maintenance work on March 23, 2025, from midnight until noon. During this period, customers will be unable to access critical banking services, including internet banking via iPKO, iPKO Biznes, and online payment services like cPłacę z iPKO.d The bank has warned of essential transactions being hampered as the services for the PKO Junior app and other functionalities, like Open Banking, will also be unavailable.
However, the IKO app will still allow cash withdrawals and BLIK payments in physical stores, but other functionalities will be disabled. Bank officials recommend that clients complete any necessary transactions ahead of the scheduled maintenance to avoid issues.
Meanwhile, ING Bank Śląski plans to impose technical breaks on the night of March 22 to March 23, and again on March 24, 2025. During these breaks, customers might struggle to deposit cash at electronic drop boxes. The bank has made it clear that due to the maintenance work, essential features like rapid transfers (Express Elixir) and BLIK transfers will also be unavailable between 11:30 PM and 5 AM over the weekend. A short technical break will occur again on March 24, from midnight until 12:30 AM.
Despite these challenges, the bank assures that ATMs and cash deposit machines will be running without interruptions, although clients are encouraged to handle cash transactions ahead of time.
mBank has also announced modernization works scheduled for the same night, which may affect service availability. For mBank customers, BLIK transfers and express transfers will be disabled from 12:30 AM to 7 AM. Additionally, access to online banking and mobile app services will be problematic between 2:30 AM and 7 AM. Card payments will still be functional during the night in physical stores, restaurants, and ATMs.
To prepare for this weekend’s financial disruptions, customers are advised to take several proactive measures. Completing important transactions in advance is crucial to avoid any complications. Clients should also consider withdrawing necessary cash ahead of the service interruptions to ensure they can continue to make purchases and pay bills without hindrance.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to explore alternative payment options, like credit cards from other banks or e-wallets, to cope with the anticipated disruptions. Keeping an eye on announcements from their respective banks, whether through official websites or social media, is essential for staying informed about any changes to the technical break schedule or available services.
Will banks compromise customer access amidst these planned outages? The authorities acknowledge the necessity of these technical breaks to ensure the ongoing security and functionality of banking services in the future.
As these major banks undergo essential maintenance and modernization, customers are reminded of the importance of preparing for unexpected interruptions. By acting early and wisely, clients can navigate the weekend with minimal disruption to their banking activities.
With customers already facing increasing digital financial complexities, these disruptions can pose significant challenges, but with proper preparation, they can mitigate potential stress during this technical update weekend. It's vital that clients act swiftly to safeguard their financial needs during this time.
Overall, this weekend's banks' service interruptions highlight the balance between ensuring enhanced security for customers while managing the expectations of providing continuous service access. So what measures will you take to ensure your financial safety during this crucial period?
