Mobile banking apps exceed 3 million users

Photo: Glowimages

The ten biggest Polish banks now boast more than 3 million users of their mobile applications. In 2011 the figure was lower than 900,000, but by mid 2012 it grew to 1.6 million.

It took Polish mobile banking less than five years to cross the 3 million mark. In the case of online banking, a similar process lasted from its launch in 2000 to 2006. The quick groqth may be largely attributed to easier internet access and the popularity of smartphones.

Important players on the market include BZ WBK, with 320,000 mobile banking users at the end of June, and mBank, with as many as 770,000 users. A year ago the numbers were 170,000 and 380,000 respectively.

mBank attributes the high growth largely to the introduction of a new app in February this year.

“We have notices that customers quickly acknowledge that mobile banking is easier and safer than they originally though,” Ricardo Campo from another lender, Bank Millennium, told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.

“When you combine that with the increase in smartphone ownership in Poland and cheaper internet access, you may assume that the mobile channel will continue to grow dynamically.”

Service through a smartphone is now offered by 18 Polish banks. To catch up with the growing trend, other lenders, such as Credit Agricole and Bank Pocztwy are now preparing to launch mobile banking applications. (kw/pg)