MONEY MATTERS

The Polish currency is the polish zloty (PLN).  The best and safest place to exchange currency is with the bank.  However, they offer lower prices than other exchange centres, and some of them pass on quite high charges (approximately 2-3% per transaction).  Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and some of them on Saturdays until 1.00pm.  Better exchange rates are offered in currency exchange offices but Poland wishes to discourage exchanges outside the banks.  Although the use of travellers cheques is declining, they can be exchanged in authorised sales offices such as American Express as well as in some banks, but not in the exchange offices.   ATMs are increasing, especially in big cities, but cash machines in provincial areas are rare.  All the normal debit and credit cards are becoming more generally accepted year after year.