ECB advises keeping cash in case card and BLIK payments fail

During a power or internet outage, a card may not work, BLIK may become unavailable and an ATM may refuse to dispense cash. Money in the account does not disappear, but access to it may be limited. In a 2025 analysis, the European Central Bank pointed to the role of cash in crises.

The ECB analysis cites recommendations from the Netherlands, Austria and Finland: from 70 to 100 euros per household member, or an amount covering basic expenses for 72 hours. These are benchmarks from foreign recommendations, not official rates in Poland.

The Polish Poradnik Bezpieczeństwa, prepared by the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Defence and the RCB, advises keeping household supplies for at least three days and cash in various denominations.