In 2017, despite high card adoption in Poland, there was a significant digital payment acceptance gap among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) compared to the European Union average. Cost is one of the key considerations for accepting digital payments. There is a common misconception by SMEs that cash acceptance is free, while dedicated point-of-sale (POS) solutions require additional expenses. Costs associated with cash — such as physical handling, reconciliation, and risk of leakages, fraud, theft and damage — are often not considered.¹
Mastercard worked with key industry partners, the Polish Ministry of Development & Technology and Polish Bank Association to launch the Cashless Poland Program in 2017 to drive nationwide cashless payment adoption.²
The Cashless Poland Foundation was established to facilitate contributions from financial institutions, schemes and acquirers toward an industry-funded program. The program initially offered SMEs free cashless POS terminals for a 12-month period.¹
"The Cashless Poland Foundation is a unique project on a European scale that connects key participants of the commercial market and the public sector," explains Joanna Erdman, President of the Cashless Poland Foundation." The effects of this cooperation are noticeable for the entire market – including consumers, small companies, public entities, as well as the participants of the agreement.
"Since the foundation's establishment, we have more than doubled the share of cashless payments in the number of retail payments in Poland (65% in 2023 versus 32% in 2016), and we have also doubled the acceptance network," adds Joanna. "Together, we help create and introduce innovative market tools and technologies (e.g. Click to Pay), thanks to which Poland has become one of the most advanced payment markets in Europe." The program has since been expanded to serve the payment needs of government offices; has been joined by new acquirers, banks and distribution partners; and is offering the latest digital payment acceptance solutions, such as softPOS, mobile POS and more, to meet evolving customer needs.
The Cashless Poland Foundation continues to invest in digital payment adoption by:
© 2024 Mastercard. The information contained in this document is proprietary to Mastercard International Incorporated, one or more ofits affiliated entities (collectively “Mastercard”), or both. This material is intended to be used internally within your organization, and may not be duplicated, published, or disclosed, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Mastercard. Mastercard makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express orimplied, with respect to the contents of this document. Without limitation, Mastercard specifically disclaims all representations and warranties with respect to this document and any intellectual property rights subsisting therein or any part thereof, including but not limited to any and all implied warranties of title, non-infringement, or suitability for any purpose (whether or not Mastercard has been advised, has reason to know, oris otherwise in fact aware of any information) or achievement of any particular result.