New cash withdrawal limit at Euronet ATMs - what changed on 19 February 2025?
From 19 February 2025, a new cash withdrawal limit has applied across Poland at ATMs in the Euronet Polska network. A single cash withdrawal using a BLIK code has been restricted to just PLN 200. As the operator stresses in its official announcement, the limit applies until further notice and covers all ATMs and recyclers belonging to the Euronet network in Poland.
The reason for such a drastic restriction is the financial losses generated by BLIK cash transactions. According to publicly available analyses, the rates set by Polski Standard Płatności (the Polish Payment Standard) for BLIK code withdrawals remain at a level that does not cover the cost of the service for ATM operators. Put simply, every cash withdrawal made with BLIK at a Euronet ATM caused the company a loss.
It is worth stressing, however, that this restriction applies only to the Euronet network. BLIK users can still withdraw cash freely at more than 13,000 ATMs across the country, including more than 8,000 machines in the banks' own networks, such as PKO Bank Polski, ING, mBank, Santander, Bank Pekao, BNP Paribas, Millennium or SGB Grupa. At these ATMs, transaction limits remain at the previous, higher level.
Although this change is commercial rather than regulatory in nature, it fits squarely into the broader trend of restricting cash transactions - both in Poland and across the European Union.
Cash transaction limits for businesses in Poland in 2025 and 2026
In the Polish legal system, restrictions on cash transactions apply primarily to businesses. Under the Act of 6 March 2018 - Entrepreneurs' Law (Journal of Laws 2024, item 236), there is a cash transaction limit of PLN 15,000. Any transaction exceeding this amount must be settled through a payment account.
This limit refers to the value of the whole transaction, regardless of the number of payments made within it. This means that splitting a payment into several smaller parts does not allow the restriction to be circumvented. Importantly, the regulation also covers foundations entered in the National Court Register (KRS) register of entrepreneurs. A reduction of the limit to PLN 8,000 was planned, but for now it remains at PLN 15,000.
For a functioning business, PLN 15,000 is in practice a very low threshold, which means that cash dealings in B2B relationships are de facto marginal. Every business owner should be aware of this, because breaching the limit carries serious tax consequences - the expense cannot be treated as a tax-deductible cost.
Restrictions for individuals - when can a bank refuse a cash withdrawal?
Although there are no top-down cash transaction limits for individuals in Poland, this does not mean complete freedom to dispose of your own funds. Banks apply their own transfer and withdrawal limits, and raising them requires a personal visit to a branch and presenting the relevant documents.
A prime example is the purchase of real estate. Even with a million zlotys in your account, a bank may refuse to process a single transfer of that amount. In practice, the daily transfer limit may be around PLN 200,000, and raising it requires, for example, a reservation agreement, a developer agreement or a notarial deed.
In addition, under anti-money laundering rules, transactions above €15,000 are automatically recorded by banks and reported to the General Inspector of Financial Information (GIIF). This is part of the system for combating terrorist financing, in which banks act as a kind of first line of control.
For clients, this means that for larger financial operations - particularly those involving property transactions - it is worth consulting a lawyer in advance to avoid unnecessary delays and complications.
New EU rules from 2027 - a €10,000 limit on cash transactions
Further significant changes are brought by Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the prevention of the use of the financial system for money laundering and terrorist financing. From 2027, all EU Member States will be required to introduce a cash transaction limit of no more than €10,000.
Key assumptions of the new EU rules:
- Maximum limit on cash transactions - €10,000 (or the equivalent in national currency).
- Member States may introduce lower limits, e.g. €3,000.
- The regulation applies to both businesses and individuals.
- The aim is to curb money laundering and the introduction of funds of unknown origin into circulation.
For Polish businesses, this change will not be revolutionary, as the PLN 15,000 limit (approx. €3,500) already applies and is significantly lower than the EU threshold. For individuals, however, it may mean entirely new restrictions that did not exist before.
How does Poland compare with Europe? An overview of cash limits
Restrictions on cash transactions differ considerably between EU countries. Here is a comparison of the most important regulations:
- Poland - PLN 15,000 limit for businesses; no limit for individuals.
- Germany - no limit on cash payments, but an obligation to verify identity above €10,000.
- France - €1,000 for residents, €15,000 for non-residents.
- Greece - just €500 (except for the purchase of a car).
- Italy - €1,000 since 2022.
- Spain - withdrawals above €3,000 must be reported to the Agencia Tributaria; above €100,000 - with 72 hours' notice.
- Portugal - €3,000 in general, €1,000 for taxpayers.
- Belgium - €3,000, with a ban on cash when purchasing property.
Against this background, Poland appears to be a country with a relatively liberal approach, at least as far as individuals are concerned. However, the trend is clear - restrictions will become tighter.
Will cash disappear? Arguments for and against
Not all countries accept the direction set by Brussels. Hungary has placed the right to pay in cash under constitutional protection, arguing that restricting cash is an attack on civil liberties. Among the arguments raised are concerns about the surveillance of citizens and the risk of being cut off from one's own funds - as illustrated by the situation in Canada, when Prime Minister Trudeau's government threatened to freeze the accounts of protest participants.
On the other hand, restricting cash transactions brings tangible benefits: it reduces the shadow economy, makes drug trafficking harder and can significantly increase state budget revenue. Whatever one's position in this debate, one thing is certain - the rules are changing, and both businesses and private individuals must adapt to the new legal reality.
Do you need legal assistance in connection with cash transaction limits, AML procedures or planning larger financial operations? Contact our firm - our specialists will help you carry out every transaction safely and in accordance with the applicable law. Book a consultation today.
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