As cashless.pl has found out, the owner of the Żabka shop chain is analysing the possibility of launching a new financial service on the market. It is a payment card with a credit limit. It would be used to pay for purchases in Żabka shops, but not only - it will be possible to use at all terminals. The limit would, however, be small - on credit, one could take purchases for no more than one thousand zlotys. The service will be managed via a mobile application.

According to cashless.pl, sources; however, the project is at a relatively early stage - the search is currently on for an institution that would like to participate as a lender. Both banks and non-bank lending companies, which are increasingly bold in issuing payment cards, could be involved. The future shape of the service will largely depend on finding a lending partner.

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Cashless. pl's information was confirmed in principle by Żabka's press office. 'While working on developing convenient solutions for customers, we are analyzing many possibilities, including the card you mention. However, it is currently too early for us to provide details on the possible introduction of this type of service in our chain,’ they wrote in response to my question.

Introducing a new card with a credit limit would not be the first time the Żabka chain has encountered the card business. I want to remind you that the company has recently cooperated with BNP Paribas bank. Early last year, posters with QR codes appeared in the chain's shops, making it easy to download the GOmobile app, set up an account, and order a BNP Paribas card. The idea was that you could set up an account while shopping at Żabka and return home with your purchases and an active account and card. However, the results of the project are not known to me. When asked for information, the BNP Paribas press office only stated that the project was completed after one year and that the activities carried out as part of the project ‘were popular among customers’.

Meanwhile, earlier in spring 2019, UK fintech Dipocket and bank Santander offered Poles an up and go service, i.e. an account with a payment card, managed via a mobile app. Initially, the card and activation package could only be purchased in Żabka outlets, but later, it also remotely. However, the active distribution of the cards in shops ended as early as March 2021, and the entire project was closed in May 2022 - due to low customer interest. Interestingly, even earlier, as early as 2015, Santander, still called BZ WBK, conducted tests of a prepaid card called iJuż with Żabka. But this project also failed.

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It also seems that when launching a new credit service, Żabka will have to consider not only its previous experience with cards but also the provisions of the Act on Upbringing in Sobriety and Counteracting Alcoholism. These prohibit the sale of alcohol on credit. This means that a customer paying with Żabka's card could take ‘on credit’ bread or tinned food, not beer.

It should be noted, however, that as far as I know, banks are not particularly concerned about these regulations and allow credit card payments for purchases in grocery shops or supermarkets, regardless of what is in the shopping basket, i.e., also, when there is beer, wine, or vodka. Will Żabka be able to do the same when it introduces a new product in a situation where the public, and by extension politicians, are sensitive to the issue of too easy access to alcohol after the alcotube affair (an alcoholic product introduced by one of the producers in packaging resembling tubes of juice for children)? It seems to me that it is not apparent at the moment, and this is confirmed by the example of Allegro Pay, which is to prevent payments with its new cards in liquor shops.