BLIK to a phone number – a simple way to send money to someone close to you
Do you want to send money quickly to your husband, daughter, neighbour, or friend? You do not need to know their bank account number. All you need is the recipient's phone number. This is called a BLIK transfer to a phone number – a type of transfer where you send money straight to someone's phone number, instead of their account number.
This guide shows you everything, step by step. There is no need to rush. You cannot break anything by tapping the wrong button – you can always go back or cancel before you finally confirm the transfer.
What you will need
- A phone with your bank's app installed (an app is a program you open by tapping its icon – a small picture – on your phone's screen).
- Access to the internet (Wi-Fi at home, or mobile internet on your phone).
- The correct phone number of the person you want to send money to.
If you have not installed your bank's app yet, read our separate guide about installing an app for the first time. You can also compare personal accounts with a mobile app at /konta-osobiste.
Step by step – how to send BLIK to a phone number
- Open your bank's app on your phone by tapping its icon.
- Log in to the app – with your fingerprint, face recognition, or your password or PIN code.
- On the main screen, find the button or tab labelled "BLIK" – it is usually a purple or blue icon.
- Choose the option called "BLIK transfer" or "BLIK to phone number" (do not choose "in-store payment" or "online payment" – those are completely different features).
- Enter the phone number of the person you are sending money to, together with the country code (+48 for Poland).
- Check carefully that the phone number is entered correctly – a single wrong digit means the money could go to a complete stranger.
- Enter the amount you want to send.
- If you like, add a short note to the transfer, for example "happy birthday" (this field is usually optional).
- Read the phone number and the amount on the screen once more before continuing.
- Tap the "Next" or "Send" button.
- The app will show you a BLIK code – a six-digit, one-time code valid for only a few minutes. This is your private code confirming this one transaction.
- Confirm the transfer with your fingerprint, face recognition, or your app PIN, as the screen asks you to.
What the recipient needs to do
In many banks, the money reaches the recipient automatically, as long as the phone number is linked to their bank account. In some banks, the recipient may get a notification (a short message inside their app) asking them to confirm they are receiving the money. In that case, all they need to do is open their own app and tap "Receive" or "Confirm".
It is worth asking your close one beforehand whether they have that same phone number linked to their bank account. If they have a different number linked, the transfer will either fail or go to the wrong person.
How to check that the transfer arrived
- In your bank's app, open the "History" or "Transaction history" tab – this is usually a list of all your recent transactions.
- Find your BLIK transfer on the list, with the matching amount and date.
- Check the status next to that transfer – it should say "Completed" or "Executed".
- If you want to be one hundred percent sure, call or message the person you sent the money to and ask if they received it.
What to do if something goes wrong
Do not worry – it is normal for something not to work on the first try. Here are the most common situations and what to do about them.
- You typed the wrong phone number before confirming the transfer: simply correct the number on the screen, or tap "Cancel" and start again. As long as you have not confirmed the transfer with the BLIK code, nothing has happened yet.
- You noticed the mistake only after the money was sent: call your bank's helpline immediately – you will find the number on the back of your payment card or on your bank's website. Do not wait until tomorrow.
- The app shows that the recipient does not have that number linked to their account: ask your close one which phone number they have linked to their bank, and try again with the correct number.
- The BLIK code expired before you managed to confirm the transfer: this is not a problem. Simply start the transfer again – the app will generate a new code.
- Something on the screen looks different from what this guide describes: banks sometimes change how their app looks. Do not worry – look for similar words, for example instead of "BLIK to phone number" it might say "Transfer to phone number". If you get lost, call your bank's helpline and ask for step-by-step help.
Important warning – never give your BLIK code to anyone
A BLIK code is like a key to your money. Never give it out over the phone, by text message, or in a chat to anyone – even if that person claims to be calling from your bank.
A very common scam works like this: you are selling something on a classifieds website (for example OLX or Vinted). A "buyer" contacts you and says they want to pay right away, but they need your BLIK code "to verify" the payment. This is always a scam. A genuine payment never requires you, the seller, to give the buyer your BLIK code – you do not generate any code when you are receiving money.
Another common scam is a phone call from someone pretending to be your grandchild or a bank employee, asking you to share a BLIK code to "save" the money in your account. Your bank will never call you asking for your BLIK code.
One rule protects you from all of these scams: hang up the phone and call your bank yourself, using the number printed on your payment card. Never call back a number given to you by the person on the phone.