Blik

As smartphones became more popular, so did the potential for digital payments. It was an innovation that caught many off guard, resulting in the rise of payment apps that threaten the old way of doing things. In Poland, things took a different turn.

Seeing the writing on the wall, the country’s leading banks formed a consortium to create such an app themselves. The result is Blik, a payment method that combines the convenience of online transactions and the safety of bank transfers.

What is Blik?

Blik is a digital payment service designed to make online purchases easy. Rather than doing things the old-fashioned way, you use Blik codes generated from your bank app to make payments. The process is quick and will save you the hassle of using your credit/debit card.

Since it was built from the ground up by Polish banks, the service is only available in Poland. However, there are plans to expand Blik into Romania. At the time of writing, the company is awaiting approval from the National Bank of Romania.

Blik Account

A bank account in one of Blik’s participating banks is mandatory for the payment method. Once enabled, you can use the bank’s mobile app to initiate Blik deposits.

Company

Blik was started in 2015 by a consortium of six Polish banks. Together, they formed the Polish Payment Standards, the company responsible for managing and maintaining Blik. After its launch, the service expanded to other banks, ensuring everyone in Poland can use Blik. Its connection to your existing bank accounts and convenience made the payment method a must-have.

Despite only operating in Poland, Blik has 12 million active users. The company exclusively uses Polish zloty as its currency, with euro adoption awaiting Blik’s launch in Romania.