BANKING AND CHANGING MONEY IN POLAND

Though the Polish equivalent of the IRS may not inspire the same level of fear or anxiety as its American counterpart, you are required to pay taxes on your income when you work in Poland. Your employer should deduct the appropriate amounts from your pay. Keep in mind that Polish employers sometimes find other things to do with your tax money, so it's important to ask whether or not taxes are being properly deducted from your pay.

Even though you may not be making enough money (over US$70,000) to pay taxes to the IRS back home, you are still required to file a tax return.

New Zloty

You should be aware that two currencies are now in circulation in Poland. On January 1, 1995, the National Bank of Poland knocked off four zeros from its currency, creating a new zloty worth 10,000 old zloty. The bank also introduced a new series of coins and banknotes based on the new nominal value of the zloty. Both currencies will be in use officially until December 31, 1996.

Unfortunately, some exchange centers are taking advantage of the situation. When presented with foreign currency for exchange, these centers are handing out old 50, 100, and 200 zloty notes—worth mere pennies—instead of new zlotys worth from US$20 to $80. So, be careful. You should check that notes purchased are dated 1994 or later.

Banks

As you might imagine, the banking system in Poland does not compare to what you're accustomed to back home. Don't despair, though, because you'll still find them to be useful when you need to exchange money or get a cash advance.

Warsaw

American Express
ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 11
Warsaw
Poland
Phone: (02) 635-2002

Bank PKO Rotunda
ul. Marszalkowka 100/102
Warsaw
Poland
Phone: (022) 26 00 61

Bank Inicjatyw Gospodarczych
ul. Kopernika 36/40
Warsaw
Poland
Phone: (02) 657-5185

Bank PKO S.A
pl. Bankowy 2
Warsaw
Poland
Phone: (02) 637-1000

Krakow

American Express (at ORBIS)
al. Folcha 1
Krakow
Poland
(in the Hotel Cracovia)
Phone: (012) 21 98 80 or (012) 22 46 32

American Express
Rynek 41
Krakow
Poland
Phone: (012) 22 11 57

Bank PKO S.A.
Rynek 31
Krakow
Poland
Phone: (012) 22 60 22

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