More security for your payments – a new feature Verification of Payee (VoP) for payments in the euro

What is Verification of Payee (VoP)?

VoP is a mechanism that allows you to check with the beneficiary's bank whether the name indicated in the transfer matching the specified account number. This enables you to detect errors or attempted fraud more quickly and enhance the security of settlements with counterparties.

We are implement this mechanism in accordance with EU regulations on instant payments – Regulation (EU) 2024/886 of the European Parliament and of the Council. 

In Poland and other EU countries that are not part of the euro area, the deadline for implementing the relevant requirements is 9 July 2027. Until then, verification is optional.

VoP – how does it work in practice?

Before you sign and send a payment in euros, the system will check whether the details entered on the payment form match those registered with the beneficiary's bank. We will verify, the counterparty’s name and their account number. This will take just a few seconds.

Data verification – outgoing payments

• When you create a payment in euros using the foreign payment form, select the additional checkbox “I want to verify the counterparty’s data with their bank”
• The service will send an enquiry to the beneficiary's bank to check whether the details entered match those held by the beneficiary's bank
• When the beneficiary's bank sends a reply, one of four messages will appear on the screen in the iPKO biznes service:

1. 1. Data matches – the details are correct; the transaction can be processed safely.
   2. Data close matches (suggestion) – the system will point out small discrepancies and suggest the correct name, which it has received from the beneficiary's bank.
   3. Data does not match – a clear warning that the details do not match the specified account number. You decide whether to proceed or cancel the payments.
   4. No response – this message will appear when the service is unavailable or the beneficiary's bank has not sent a response. The bank advises that the payment may be sent to the wrong counterparty.

• If the result received is close matching or not matching, you can then try to verify the beneficiary's details using their identifier NIP (TIN) or LEI. Verification using this identifier may not be available at the beneficiary's bank.

What other information is useful?

• The VoP service is completely free of charge and available via electronic banking
• To receive a response to a VoP request, the beneficiary's bank must be listed in the register of VoP scheme participants managed by the European Payments Council
• At present, these changes do not apply to euro transfers processed internally within our bank in Poland

Data verification – incoming payments

In September 2026, we implemented the VoP service. This means that, before a payment in euros is sent from another bank to an account at PKO BP, the payment sender’s bank can automatically verify the account holder’s details with our bank.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Online Banking Support on:

• 801 36 36 36 (option 3)
• 61 855 94 94
• Email: ipkobiznes@pkobp.pl.