Coalition for Cash – Manifesto

The Coalition Manifestion for Cash published present is the voice of civilian society. The thought of establishing the Coalition was created as part of the actions of the civic run ‘Cash weapon’, led by the Institute of civilian Affairs and ESG PRO since 2020. Representatives of the Coalition organizations signed the manifesto on 16 January 2025.

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Coalition for Cash – Manifesto

Cash gives Poles freedom of choice, is simply a common good and ensures security. In particular, we could experience this during the coronavirus crisis and during the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. These events were accompanied by a sharp increase in cash withdrawals from ATMs, the highest in Europe, even higher than in Ukraine.

Citizens observe with concern the decreasing number of ATMs and bank facilities that supply cash handling. Banks liquidate ATMs, resulting in the formation of “bank slot”. In addition, we are dealing with the systematic simplification of cash withdrawal limits from ATMs.

The Cash Coalition is an informal network of organisations whose aim is to defend cash as a basic means of payment in economical trade.

Why are we defending cash?

1.Cash gives us anonymity and privacy. Data about our consumer choices do not go to the government, corporations, services and banks, so we avoid surveillance and control.

2. Cash protects against financial exclusion of citizenswho, for various reasons, cannot or do not want to benefit from non-cash payments. Cash is inclusive, allowing for social inclusion, for example, of older people and technologically excluded people.

3. Cash allows consumers to control spending more easily. With cash, we avoid financial problems arising from impulsive purchases under the influence of advertising.

4. With cash we support Polish companies: We make and keep jobs in the trade, cash production and cash logistics sectors.

5. In times of chronic judicial failure and long waiting for final court judgments cash trading, especially between tiny and micro-enterprises, is the only way to make safe transactions.

6. Cash is simply a fuse for the monetary policy of the National Bank of Poland, protecting citizens from abuse. It serves in this way the stableness of currency and the sovereignty of the state.

7. Cash increases safety of Poles and Poles and critical infrastructure of our country in the event of crises and threats, e.g. from hacking attacks, digital banking failures and abroad service activities.

In our view, the difficulties in the regular usage of the cash that citizens are experiencing are not a natural or a spontaneous process. any banking, payment and media corporations lobby for them.

The Coalition for Cash believes that top-down actions by the Polish state are needed to actively advance the cash system. Freedom, privacy and safety of Poles and Poles are at stake.

The Cash Coalition has 5 applicable recommendations for decision-makers to warrant citizens access to cash and the right to pay it.

What do you need?

1.Audit of public offices for compliance with the law applicable to the receipt of cash. Citizens point out, for example, to the Ombudsman, that they frequently cannot pay in cash, e.g. in municipal offices, taxation offices or courts.

2. Introduction of transparent ruleswhich will enable customers to know what the non-cash payment costs are for banks and financial corporations.

3. Analysis of the National Bank of Poland on the availability of low-denomination cash. present Poles and Poles study to us that they have problems with regular usage of cash, e.g. in residential stores, due to the fact that there is simply a deficiency of cash with low denominations.

4. Right to circular up accounts – allowing business accounts to be rounded to a full 10 cents will importantly increase the comfort of utilizing cash for both shops and consumers.

5. Increasing the backing of information and education campaigns by the National Bank of Poland to encourage citizens and entrepreneurs to usage cash daily – Building consumer and business awareness is very crucial in the process of taking care of the strength of our country internationally.

Coalition for Cash invites you to cooperate representatives of the media, social organisations, trade unions and employers, trade unions and informal movements. We want to work together within a broad coalition over ideological, political and organization divisions.

Warsaw, January 16, 2025

1. Alfred Bujara, Chairman, National Secretariat of Banks, Trade and Insurance NSZZ "Solidarity"
2. Jaromir Ćtrakty, manager of Legal Affairs, Polish economical Society
3. Rafał Górski, president of the Board, Institute of civilian Affairs
4. Konrad Hennig, Programme Director, Law Forum for Development
5. Mariusz Jawnik, Expert, Civic Accelerator of Innovation
6. Michał Możdzen, associate of the Management Board, Polish Economics Network
7. Aleksander Pawlak, president of the Management Board, Tavex Sp. z o.o.
8. Ilona Pietrzak, president of the Management Board, ESG PRO Sp. z o.o.
9. Jakub Rutkowski, president of the Board, Libertatis Institute Foundation
10. Sebastian Stodolak, Vice president of the Board, Warsaw Enterprise Institute
11. Arkadiusz Szcześniak, president of the Board, halt Banking Association of Lawlessness
12. Aleksandra Wróbel, Expert, Association of Entrepreneurs and Employers

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