Yorkshire Bank celebrates new banking service for Polish workers

Yorkshire Bank celebrated the launch of a new banking service for Polish-speaking customers with a vodka tasting event in Leeds (February 22).

Both Yorkshire and sister bank Clydesdale introduced the new service recently to help the Polish community carry out day-to-day banking services and send money to Poland.

The banks have a dedicated Polish language helpline and offer free Zloty transfers above £500 (normally £24).

Gary Lumby, head of retail at Yorkshire Bank, said: “Polish nationals who have come here to work have made an enormous contribution to our economy in the last few years. It is a brave step to take and we hope our new service will make life just a little bit easier for them while they settle in.”

Among the guests at the vodka tasting event were members of the Polish community in Yorkshire and representatives of companies either employing workers from Poland or which trade with the country.

There was also both Polish and Yorkshire foods on offer.

Among those manning Yorkshire and Clydesdale’s Polish helpline is Ewa Dabczak.

She said: “Even those workers who speak good English often find it’s much easier to deal with financial matters in their own language.”