What transfer method can I use to fund my account in PLN?

Depending on which Interactive Brokers entity your brokerage account is held with, you may be directed to deposit PLN into an Interactive Brokers bank account held at a bank in Germany OR Poland.

If you receive our Polish Bank routing information:

Clients that receive the bank routing information for our bank located in Poland can transfer funds easily by using the provided bank details (IBAN and SWIFT), and it will likely be processed as a domestic transfer (local bank to bank transfer).

If you receive our German Bank routing information:

Even though the bank account is located outside of Poland, it is denominated in PLN and can receive PLN transfers without issues via international bank transfer (SWIFT).

Please note:

-If your bank is located in Poland, your bank application may ask if you would prefer to send funds in the currency of the destination country (which is EUR for Germany). Do not select to transfer EUR, and do not select SEPA as the transfer method as it is only valid for EUR transfers.

-Ensure that the currency sent by your bank is PLN. If you send EUR to Interactive Brokers' bank account denominated in PLN, the funds will not arrive at Interactive Brokers and will be returned to the remitter bank account automatically. Interactive Brokers will not be informed nor involved in the return process at the bank. The return process can be lengthy and fees may apply.

-Your bank may ask you for our bank's Correspondent Bank information in addition to the IBAN and SWIFT of our bank. You only need to provide this information if your bank explicitly asks for them. Do not transfer funds directly to the Correspondent Bank as funds will not be accepted and will be rejected.

SWIFT payment

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication - SWIFT - is a network that allows banks to communicate financial information securely.

SWIFT payments are offered by most banks for international money transfers, and involve a series of banks which work together to make sure your money arrives at your account.

If you transfer PLN from or to a financial institution outside of Poland, they may require the use of a so called intermediary or correspondent bank to route the payment through before reaching your account. These are called cross-border payments.

Bank transfers can take time to complete, particularly when it comes to cross-border payments. Clients are increasingly accustomed to a payments experience that feels instant, but making a payment to another country can be much more complex and time-consuming.

Processing bank transfers involves a number of steps – particularly for cross-border payments. These are sent via the correspondent banking network and typically pass between several different banks along the way. After being initiated, a wire transfer is sent by the debtor agent to an intermediary bank before moving on to the creditor agent. Once these steps are complete, the recipient will receive their funds.

There are a number of reasons why cross-border payments may be delayed or held up. Not all account balances can be updated outside of the operating hours of local settlement systems. Delays can also arise if compliance checks need to be carried out, especially when a payment passes through different countries and jurisdictions.

Difference between domestic and international bank transfers

Banks make a domestic transfer to send funds to financial institutions residing in the same country or financial zone. When sending funds to financial institutions in a foreign country or financial zone, banks have to make an international bank transfer. The differences between these two bank transfers affect the number of fees banks charge and the duration it takes to complete the transfer.

How long does it usually take for my funds to arrive?

*Please consult with the sending institution about the costs to process your payment as this may vary by financial institution. IBKR does not charge fees for the deposit of funds.

IBKR credit funds real time upon receipt. Please note that we do not have influence on the speed of transfer. You may consult with your bank regarding their processing times.

Payments that are subject to additional review may take longer to credit.