PKO Bank Polski Disrupts Connectivity: Launches eSIM Roaming Directly in Its App
According to Alertify, PKO Bank Polski has launched an innovative eSIM roaming service integrated directly into its popular banking apps, IKO and iPKO. This offering, introduced in January 2026, allows customers to purchase and activate eSIM data plans seamlessly for international travel, redefining the convenience of staying connected while abroad.
How PKO Bank Polski’s eSIM Service Works
The eSIM service is available within the “Offer → Services & purchases → eSIM” section of PKO’s digital platforms. Customers can select from country-specific or regional data packages, install the eSIM profile over the air, and instantly connect to a local network upon arrival at their destination. This eliminates the need for physical SIM cards or expensive roaming fees.
Powered by PKO Finat in collaboration with Autopay and Fonia Telecom by Fonia.Group, the integration offers users an intuitive experience. Customers simply purchase their data plan through IKO or iPKO, which integrates directly into the bank’s digital ecosystem. Users have six months to activate the eSIM after purchase, providing ample flexibility for future travel plans.
With plans tailored to regions like Europe and global destinations, PKO Bank Polski aims to offer competitive pricing that rivals standalone eSIM services—an attractive prospect for the bank’s 12+ million clients. Specifically, the service caters to markets such as the UK, Turkey, or the USA, where EU roaming limitations make traditional roaming services prohibitively expensive.
Why This Matters for the Telecom Industry
PKO Bank Polski’s move into the eSIM space signals a significant shift in how financial institutions approach customer engagement. While eSIM providers such as apps from Revolut and Wise have been active in offering similar travel-focused data services, PKO stands out as one of the first traditional banks in Central and Eastern Europe to integrate such a feature within its primary banking platform.
Industry analysts see this as part of a growing trend to blur the lines between financial services and lifestyle conveniences. By embedding connectivity directly into banking operations, PKO Bank Polski offers an all-in-one solution for travelers, combining finance management, payments, and connectivity in a seamless experience.
Insights from GSMA suggest that eSIM adoption is accelerating globally, fueled by consumer demand for frictionless solutions. This trend represents both a challenge and an opportunity for established telecom operators, whose traditional SIM-based business models must now compete with eSIM packages from non-telco entities like PKO and other fintech players.
Expert Perspective and Future Outlook
The launch of PKO’s eSIM service reflects a broader strategic approach: leveraging established trust and customer loyalty to offer value-added, non-banking services. By integrating eSIMs into apps like IKO and iPKO, PKO Bank Polski positions itself ahead of regional competitors like other banks and neobanks in Poland and Central Europe.
For telecom operators, this development raises critical questions about how to position roaming offerings in a post-pandemic, highly competitive travel economy. With traditional roaming add-ons typically tied to existing voice/data plans, telecom companies risk losing market share to banks and fintechs offering more flexible, standalone solutions.
Experts predict that we will see more financial institutions following PKO’s lead by venturing into adjacent industries. The convenience of such integrations—from eSIMs to other lifestyle services—could make banks indispensable digital hubs for customers.
Conclusion: Evolution of Banking Beyond Finance
PKO Bank Polski’s eSIM launch is more than a travel-friendly feature—it is a bold statement about the future of banking, where traditional institutions evolve into lifestyle enablers. With competitive pricing, trusted platforms, and seamless app integration, the bank challenges both telecom providers and fintech rivals to rethink how they engage tech-savvy consumers.
Will other major banks around the globe follow PKO’s roadmap into the connectivity market, reshaping the relationship between banking and digital services? Let us know your thoughts!
