Payment security: Experts warn against handing cards to merchants

Financial institutions and experts are highlighting the importance of secure payment practices as digital and virtual cards become more prevalent. The shift toward using smartphones and smartwatches for transactions relies on tokenization, where a digital identifier replaces the actual card number to enhance security.

In Poland, PKO BP has issued warnings regarding card safety, advising customers never to hand their physical cards to merchants or waiters for processing. Instead, customers should request that the staff bring the terminal to them. Additionally, users are urged to protect their PINs from being observed by others during transactions.

Regarding access to funds during emergencies, legal frameworks such as the Banking Law in Poland ensure that account holders maintain control over their savings. While a state can theoretically intervene through specific legal decisions, a general emergency does not result in the automatic freezing of all bank accounts. However, practical limitations such as ATM cash shortages or bank-specific withdrawal notice requirements for large sums may affect immediate liquidity.