Small payment institution in Poland

About This Company

Art. 72a of the Payment Services Act defines the notification thresholds of 20%, 30% and 50% for national payment institutions in Poland. A buyer acquiring a qualifying holding in a small payment institution must notify KNF in advance. Polish supervisors assess the prospective ownership group and can formally object within 60 working days. That statutory review timeline can extend by up to 20 working days while the regulator waits for requested documents. The buyer must verify that the target holds an active status of Wpisany rather than Wykreślony on the public database. Searches on the KNF portal run by entity legal name, register entry number, tax identification number (NIP), or KRS company number. This search confirms the approved activities: money remittance, payment transactions, acquiring payment transactions, issuing payment instruments, payment initiation services, or account information services. The register also verifies that the entry is domestic and cannot passport to other European Union member states. Failing to follow ownership rules carries severe legal consequences under Polish law. Shares acquired in breach carry no voting rights. Checking these specific database records before transaction closing ensures that the target vehicle remains valid under Directive (EU) 2015/2366.