Poland's Blik payment system readies for euro zone expansion

Polish mobile payment operator Blik is setting its sights on the euro zone, with plans to integrate its technology into three major Romanian banks this year while utilizing Slovakia as a springboard for broader regional growth, according to CEO Dariusz Mazurkiewicz.

Speaking at the European Financial Congress in Sopot, Mazurkiewicz noted that while some Romanian lenders are currently focusing on the local RoPay system, Blik’s integration process remains a priority. The expansion strategy hinges on transforming Slovakia into a central hub, bolstered by the company’s recent acquisition of a local platform and ongoing partnerships with Tatra banka and VUB.

Blik, which processed 2.9 billion transactions and reached 20.7 million active users last year, is jointly owned by major Polish financial institutions including PKO BP, mBank, and ING BSK. To accelerate its reach, the firm is deepening ties with Erste Group, which recently became a shareholder. Integrating Blik into Erste’s George digital banking platform could open doors to additional markets, including Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Mazurkiewicz emphasized the urgency of this cross-border rollout, citing the need to secure a foothold in the regional payments landscape before U.S. tech giants further entrench their dominance.