BLIK Goes European - Poland's Mobile Payment System Heads for the Continent
BLIK's international expansion took concrete shape in June 2026. At the 16th European Financial Congress in Sopot (1–3 June 2026), the CEO of PSP - BLIK's operator - announced that at least three large Romanian banks will begin integrating BLIK technology later this year. It is a historic milestone: for the first time, Poland's dominant mobile payment system is stepping beyond its home market and offering Romanians and Slovaks what over 20 million Poles already enjoy.
Record Numbers at Home, Expansion Abroad
In 2025, Poles completed a total of 2.9 billion BLIK transactions worth 441.5 billion PLN. The system processed an average of 8 million operations per day, with a record single day reaching almost 13 million transactions. By year-end 20.7 million Poles were active BLIK users - an increase of 2.2 million in just 12 months.
Those numbers impress European banks. Erste Group became a PSP shareholder not through a dedicated BLIK investment, but as a result of its acquisition of Santander Bank Polska (a long-standing PSP co-owner), finalised in 2026. A possible integration of BLIK into the George digital banking platform is so far only a stated ambition, not a confirmed step, that could open a route to new users outside Poland.
Slovakia as the Eurozone Gateway
PSP has designated Slovakia as its eurozone hub. Slovakia uses the euro, meaning any solution tested in Bratislava can roll out to Austria, the Czech Republic or Hungary with minimal friction. PSP has also established partnerships with Tatra banka and VÚB - the two largest commercial banks in the country.
Romania - the Biggest Market in the Region
Romania presents a different challenge. With over 19 million inhabitants and its own local payment system RoPay, some Romanian banks are prioritising the domestic solution. PSP however is not backing down: at least three large financial institutions have confirmed their readiness to integrate.
Strategy - CEE Banks as Co-Owners
Rather than entering foreign markets from the outside, PSP invites local players to become co-owners of the system or partners with them on rollout. In Slovakia that partner is Tatra banka, part of the Raiffeisen Bank International group - a technology rollout partnership, not an equity stake in PSP itself.
What Does This Mean for Polish Users?
- Payments abroad without a physical card - at a Romanian online shop, a Slovak hotel or a Czech e-commerce platform
- Cross-border P2P transfers - as simple as sending money domestically in Poland
- Security you already know - a one-time code, in-app authorisation, no card details exposed
- ATM cash withdrawals - already available in Poland and a natural candidate for foreign markets
Update (16 October 2026): As of mid-October 2026, BLIK is live in Slovakia with two banks - Tatra banka and mBank SK (not VUB, as suggested back in June 2026). In Romania, the first BLIK transactions in banking apps, and the names of the three announced banks, remain unconfirmed. Dariusz Mazurkiewicz, quoted in this article as PSP's CEO, resigned from that role in July 2026.
Summary
If you are not yet using BLIK, it is worth opening or switching to a personal account at a bank that offers full BLIK integration. Check on BankSorter.com which accounts offer the best mobile apps with full BLIK support. BLIK's European expansion has only just begun.