Sending business payments from the US to Poland
A US company pays a Polish supplier, contractor or subsidiary in zloty, euros or US dollars, to the IBAN of the account in that currency: by SWIFT wire, or by SEPA when paying euros. You need the legal name exactly as on the account and the 28-character Polish IBAN for the right currency.
- A Polish IBAN has 28 characters: PL, two check digits and 24 digits, and each currency account has its own IBAN.
- The Polish zloty is fully convertible, there are no foreign exchange controls affecting trade in goods, and companies in Poland have free access to foreign currency.
- Poland is outside the euro area, so EU instant payment rules reach Polish banks later: receiving instant euro payments by 9 January 2027 and verification of payee by 9 July 2027.
- Poland is required to adopt the euro under its EU accession terms but has no fixed date, according to the International Trade Administration.
- Helm pays euros by SEPA; zloty and dollar payments go by SWIFT or by local rails where available, confirmed by the account manager.
Details to collect from a Polish recipient
Poland uses the IBAN for every account. Swift's IBAN Registry lists the Polish IBAN at 28 characters, all digits after PL; its example is PL61109010140000071219812874, in which the first eight digits after the check digits identify the bank branch. A Polish company that holds accounts in more than one currency has a separate IBAN for each, so ask for the IBAN of the account in the invoice currency.
| Detail | Format | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| IBAN | 28 characters starting PL | Identifies bank, branch and account |
| Account currency | PLN, EUR or USD | Each currency account has its own IBAN |
| Beneficiary name | Legal name including Sp. z o.o. or S.A. | Checked by the bank |
| Bank SWIFT/BIC | 8 or 11 characters | Needed for SWIFT wires |
| Reference | Invoice number | Lets the supplier match the payment |
Source: Swift IBAN Registry, Release 103 (September 2026). As published on 29 October 2026.
Confirm the BIC with our SWIFT code lookup.
Pay in zloty, euros or US dollars?
The International Trade Administration states that the Polish zloty is fully convertible, that there are no foreign exchange controls affecting trade in goods, and that companies operating in Poland have free access to foreign currency. Poland is required to adopt the euro under its EU accession terms, but the government has set no date.
A Polish supplier may invoice in zloty, euros or dollars. Agree the currency on the purchase order and pay the account in that currency, which avoids a conversion at the Polish bank and keeps the exchange risk where the contract puts it.
| Invoice | How to pay | Who converts |
|---|---|---|
| PLN | Zloty to the PLN IBAN, by SWIFT or local rails where available | You or your provider |
| EUR | Euros to the EUR IBAN, by SEPA | You or your provider |
| USD | Dollars to the USD IBAN, by SWIFT | Nobody |
| Any, paid to the wrong currency account | As above | The Polish bank, at its rate |
Source: International Trade Administration, Poland. As published on 29 October 2026.
For zloty values, see the USD to PLN currency page.
Rails and arrival times
Euros reach a Polish euro account as a SEPA credit transfer, because the EU's euro payment rules cover all member states. Poland is outside the euro area, so the Instant Payments Regulation reaches its banks later than euro area banks: the European Central Bank lists 9 January 2027 for non-euro area member states to receive instant euro payments, 9 July 2027 to send them and to offer verification of payee, and 9 April 2027 for payment and e-money institutions to receive them.
Zloty and dollars travel by SWIFT unless your provider has a local zloty payout. Swift reports that almost 100% of gpi payments are credited within 24 hours.
| Route | Currency | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| SEPA credit transfer | EUR | Instant euro receipt required at Polish banks from 9 January 2027 |
| SWIFT wire to the PLN or USD IBAN | PLN or USD | Almost 100% of gpi payments within 24 hours |
| Verification of payee on euro transfers | EUR | Required in non-euro member states from 9 July 2027 |
Sources: European Central Bank, Instant Payments Regulation; Swift gpi. As published on 29 October 2026.
Documents and checks
Poland does not ask a foreign payer for purpose codes, and the zloty's convertibility means no exchange form is needed. The checks that matter are the name and the currency of the account. Polish company names include the legal form, such as Sp. z o.o. for a limited liability company, and the bank compares the name you give with the account holder.
For a Polish subsidiary or shared service center, quote the intercompany agreement and state whether each payment covers services, royalties, a loan or capital.
On the US side, every payment to a Polish company must pass sanctions screening: OFAC states that all US persons, including all US incorporated entities and their foreign branches, must comply with US sanctions, so the payer, the recipient and the recipient's bank are checked before the money moves.
Costs: Helm fees, intermediary deductions, SHA and OUR
Polish banks publish their own charges for receiving payments from outside the EU; ask the supplier what its bank deducts. Paying euros by SEPA keeps the payment out of the correspondent chain, and PSD2 Article 62 makes each side pay its own provider's charges on payments within the EU. On a SWIFT wire in zloty or dollars, OUR means the sender pays all charges and SHA lets intermediaries deduct their fees in transit; see our guide to OUR, SHA and BEN charges. Helm does not open accounts for businesses registered in the UK or the EEA; this page is for US companies paying them. Helm international payments show the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm, and the account manager confirms the route for each corridor.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
Why payments to Poland are delayed or returned
| Cause | Prevention |
|---|---|
| Euros or dollars sent to the zloty IBAN | Ask for the IBAN of the account in the invoice currency |
| IBAN mistyped | Check it has 28 characters and starts PL |
| Name without the legal form | Include Sp. z o.o. or S.A. |
| Expecting instant euro credit before 2027 | Allow standard SEPA timing until Polish banks must receive instant payments |
| SHA deductions on a SWIFT wire | Pay euros by SEPA, or send OUR |
Sources: Swift IBAN Registry; European Central Bank. As published on 29 October 2026.
Checklist before you send
- Agree PLN, EUR or USD on the purchase order.
- Ask for the 28-character IBAN of the account in that currency.
- Use the legal name with Sp. z o.o. or S.A.
- Pay euros by SEPA, and zloty or dollars by the route your provider confirms.
- Quote the invoice number in the reference.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
What details do I need to pay a Polish company?
The legal name with its legal form, the 28-character IBAN of the account in the invoice currency and, for SWIFT wires, the bank's BIC.
Should I pay a Polish supplier in zloty, euros or dollars?
Pay the invoice currency into the matching account. The zloty is fully convertible and Polish companies have free access to foreign currency.
Can I pay a Polish company by SEPA?
Yes, in euros to its euro account. Poland is in the EU, although outside the euro area.
When do instant euro payments reach Polish banks?
Under the EU Instant Payments Regulation, banks in non-euro area member states must be able to receive instant euro payments by 9 January 2027.
Does Poland have exchange controls?
No controls affect trade in goods, according to the International Trade Administration, and the zloty is fully convertible.
References
- International Trade Administration: Poland Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Swift: IBAN Registry, Release 103 (September 2026)
- European Central Bank: Instant Payments Regulation
- Directive (EU) 2015/2366 (PSD2), Article 62: Charges applicable
- Swift: Fast, transparent and trackable payments (gpi)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, OFAC: Who must comply with OFAC sanctions? (FAQ 11)
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.