For now, bank customers – at least theoretically – may not worry that Visa and Mastercard will increase the so-called ATM fee. This fee is the maximum commission that the bank pays to the device operator for completing the transaction. As the Bankier.pl website reminds, formally, changes in the amount of the mentioned fee apply only to banks and ATM owners.
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This does not mean, however, that the higher amounts that banks will incur for card cash withdrawals from an ATM that is not part of their own network will not ultimately translate into fees for customers.
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As Bankier.pl reminds, the current ATM fee for Visa cards is PLN 1.30 for each withdrawal, regardless of the amount. The rate has been valid since 2010.
In turn, in the case of Mastercard, from 2023, banks will pay PLN 1.20 plus 0.05%. transaction value. BLIK withdrawals are charged a fee of PLN 1.20. Such data is presented by the National Bank of Poland in the report on the payment system for the first half of 2024.
ATM withdrawals are becoming more expensive. Here's what's changing from 2026
From February 2026, the rates will increase and will take the form of a mixed fixed and percentage fee. Mastercard will charge PLN 1.20 plus 0.18 percent. withdrawal amount, and Visa – PLN 1.20 plus 0.17 percent. both at the beginning and end of February 2026.
As explained by Bankier.pl, when withdrawing PLN 1,000, the cost for the bank will increase from approximately PLN 1.70 to approximately PLN 3 for Mastercard, and from PLN 1.30 to approximately PLN 2.90 for Visa.
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Dr. Michał Macierzyński from PKO Bank Polski estimates that this means an additional PLN 100-150 million annually for the sector and an increase in unit costs of withdrawals by even more than 100%. compared to current rates.
The ATM fee remained unchanged for several years, while the costs of maintaining the infrastructure systematically increased.
Visa and Mastercard raise the so-called ATM fee. When will customers feel it?
The increase in the ATM fee will primarily benefit ATM operators. A higher commission for each withdrawal means more revenue from the existing network and may enable investment in new devices in the future.
The costs will be borne by banks, especially those that do not have an extensive ATM network of their own.
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Importantly, the new rates formally apply to settlements between banks and ATM operators, and not directly to the fees visible in the commission tables for customers. Banks set these commissions themselves. As Bankier.pl points out, it is difficult to expect that the sector will absorb additional tens of millions of zlotys of costs without reacting.
The so-called increases ATM fee can bring several options for customers. It is possible that we will see further restrictions on free withdrawals from foreign ATMs. Another scenario is to popularize minimum withdrawal amounts at which the fee is waived. It is also possible that banks will promote BLIK and cashless payments more strongly.
