A deposit without a bank account? In theory yes, in practice read the fine print
Many savers are looking for a deposit without a bank account – they want to park their savings at a high rate without moving their entire banking relationship to a new institution. The problem is that banks rarely state clearly in their marketing whether opening an account is a condition for opening a deposit, or just an extra sales incentive on the side. We checked the offer descriptions for every deposit listed on BankSorter, and the result is clear: only one bank explicitly confirms that an account is not required.
Why banks "bundle" deposits with accounts
From a bank's point of view, a deposit is a one-off product – the customer parks money for a fixed term, collects interest, and often never comes back. A current account is a completely different story: it means ongoing contact with the customer, salary inflows, card transactions, and cross-selling of loans and credit cards. That's why many banks build their deposit promotions around also "selling" an account at the same time – even if the two are formally separate products under the terms and conditions.
In practice this shows up right in the offer description. Nest Bank's description of "Nest Lokata Witaj" mentions, in the same breath, a "bonus of up to PLN 900 for a salary transfer" and an account, card and Euronet ATMs "unconditionally for PLN 0" – a reader could easily get the impression the deposit and the account are one package. Crédit Agricole's description of "Lokata Powitalna" opens directly with the pitch "Choose the account for you and enter a world of benefits" plus a bonus of up to PLN 1,000 for opening an account. UniCredit's "Lokata terminowa" adds a separate "open an account for PLN 0" incentive alongside the deposit's own terms.
That doesn't mean it's impossible to open the deposit alone without an account in any of these cases – it might well be possible, and the highest rate might only apply to the bundled package, or the account promotion might be entirely separate and optional. The real issue is different: the marketing copy simply doesn't specify this, so we cannot confirm or rule it out based on the offer page alone.
The only clearly confirmed exception: Inbank
Across the entire checked database, only one bank states this outright, with no ambiguity. Inbank's description of both "Lokata na Start" and "Lokata standardowa" states: "You don't need to change your bank to open a deposit and earn with Inbank." That is the only sentence in the whole dataset that can be read as a clear declaration: the deposit is opened independently of where you hold your current account, and you don't need to move it.
It's worth adding that Inbank has two deposits on BankSorter: "Lokata na Start" at 4.5% for 6 months, and "Lokata standardowa" at 2.6% for 1 month. These aren't the highest rates on the market – the current leader in our ranking is Nest Lokata Witaj at 6.1% for 6 months – but Inbank is the only bank where we have a clear, written confirmation that the deposit doesn't depend on holding an account.
What about the other banks?
Here we have to be honest: for no other deposit in the database – not VeloLokata dla Aktywnych (6.0%/6 mo.), not Erste Lokata na Powitanie (4.5%/3 mo.), not Raiffeisen Lokata dla Ciebie (3.7%/36 mo.), not Santander Consumer Lokata Online Nowe Środki (3.4%/4 mo.), not VeloBank's deposits (3.0%/2 mo.) – does the marketing description confirm or rule out an account requirement. This doesn't mean these banks require an account – it only means the offer page doesn't specify it, and guessing based on that would be just that: a guess.
The only way to be certain is to check the promotion's terms and conditions or the specific deposit's rate table for a sentence along the lines of "deposit available only to account holders" or – conversely – "deposit available without the need to hold a current account." If no such sentence exists, it's worth calling the bank's helpline and asking directly before you create a profile and fill in an application – backing out halfway through the process is often time-consuming.
What to check before opening a deposit
- Check the promotion's terms and conditions, not just the banner ad – the highest rate is often reserved for "new funds" or customers with an active account.
- Calculate the real return – a high rate for 1–2 months can yield less interest than a lower rate over a longer term, especially after the Belka tax (Poland's 19% capital gains tax) is deducted.
- Ask the bank's consultant directly whether the deposit requires a current account – it's the fastest way to avoid a surprise partway through opening it.
- Don't open an account "just in case" if all you actually want is the deposit – an extra account can mean card fees or penalties if you don't meet the promotion's inflow conditions.
Summary
If you're looking for a deposit without opening a bank account, Inbank is the only bank in our database that states this directly and unambiguously – for both "Lokata na Start" (4.5%/6 mo.) and "Lokata standardowa" (2.6%/1 mo.). For other offers – including attractively priced promotions like Nest Lokata Witaj or VeloLokata dla Aktywnych – the marketing copy doesn't give a clear answer, and tying a deposit to an account opening is often a bank's way of winning a new, ongoing customer, not just a few months' deposit. Before you apply, check the terms and conditions or ask a consultant directly.
Want to see the full picture and compare current rates? Check the ranking of the best deposits or browse the full list of deposits available on BankSorter.
Product data verified: September 22, 2026, source: the BankSorter offer database.