1000 PLN banknote: Will the NBP change its mind in 2026?

In brief

The NBP officially withdrew from plans to introduce a 1000 PLN banknote in October 2024, which was confirmed by statements from Governor Adam Glapiński.
The current issuance strategy focuses on commemorative banknotes, such as the new 20 PLN issue from November 2025 and unique editions containing 31.1g of gold.
The absence of a high-denomination banknote is part of a cash management strategy intended to support the digitalization of payments while maintaining the stability of monetary circulation.

Evolution of the NBP's position: from announcement to withdrawal

Today, in August 2026, the topic of introducing a 1000 PLN banknote into general circulation is definitively closed. The National Bank of Poland consistently adheres to the decision that set the direction for the country's issuance policy nearly two years ago. There will be no "thousand" in the wallets of Poles.

The turning point in this discussion was the position taken by Governor Adam Glapiński in 2024. It was he who cut short the speculation regarding the highest denomination, which regularly fueled the imaginations of collectors and some economists. The official statement from October 29, 2024, left no illusions: the central bank had withdrawn from its earlier issuance plans. The decision proved final.

Instead of mass printing, the NBP chose a strategy focused on prestige and numismatics. The central bank clearly prioritizes commemorative issues. Examples include special editions, often minted in precious metals, such as numismatic items containing exactly 31.1 grams of pure gold. This is a clear signal to the market. The institution prefers to promote Polish history and the art of minting rather than introduce a high denomination that, for many, would merely be a symbol of currency depreciation.

For the citizen, this means one thing. Wallets will remain without a new, high denomination, and cash policy will remain conservative. Is this a mistake? From the point of view of cash circulation logistics – perhaps. However, from the perspective of institutional message stability, it is a safe harbor. The NBP effectively avoids accusations of debasing the currency by introducing high-value banknotes, which always

Issuance strategy 2025-2026: Gold and collecting instead of circulation

The National Bank of Poland is firmly sticking to the course set in October 2024, when the discussion about introducing a 1000 PLN banknote into general circulation was officially cut short. Despite regularly recurring speculation in the financial media, the central bank has not changed its mind. Instead of introducing the highest denomination for daily transactions, the NBP is consistently shifting its focus toward collector issues and numismatic items with high bullion value, which is clearly visible in the institution's recent actions.

Physical money in Poland is evolving, but not toward higher denominations; rather, it is moving toward products for investors and hobbyists. This is confirmed by specific issuance moves in recent months:

October 13, 2025: The NBP officially revealed the design of a new 20 PLN banknote, which was designed for standard circulation, not to replace high denominations.
November 2025: The numismatic market focused on an issue related to the millennium of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave, which aligns with the policy of highlighting historical anniversaries.
February 6, 2026: The central bank issued numismatic items containing 31.1 grams of pure gold, which constitutes the physical equivalent of one ounce and is a product aimed exclusively at collectors.

This decision is a signal to the market that the NBP does not see a need to "refresh" Poles' wallets with high-denomination banknotes that could facilitate the gray market. Instead, the institution is choosing a safer issuance path. Promoting gold as a store of value in numismatic form is a clear message: if you are looking for something more than a 20-zloty note at the bank, look into bullion, not a new, high payment denomination. Collectors have gained new assets, but ordinary consumers are waiting in vain for a thousand-zloty banknote at the ATM.

The National Bank of Poland building in Warsaw on Świętokrzyska Street.

Impact on the cash market and inflation

The National Bank of Poland is firmly sticking to the decision of October 29, 2024, definitively rejecting the idea of introducing a 1000 PLN banknote into general circulation. Despite periodic speculation, the issuance strategy remains unchanged. The NBP consistently builds its offering based on existing denominations, ending the set with the 500 PLN banknote. Stability is the foundation upon which the country's monetary policy rests.

Experts have been pointing out for years that introducing high denominations is often a signal of a fight against galloping inflation, which in Polish realities is an undesirable and unjustified scenario. Instead of opening the door to a debate about currency devaluation, the central bank focuses on commemorative issues. Examples include numismatic items, such as those containing 31.1 grams of pure gold, which were announced at the beginning of February 2026. For collectors, this is an attractive product; for the cash market, it is a safe alternative that does not destabilize daily transactions.

Maintaining the current structure of denominations forces a certain discipline on the economy. The focus on collector issues, whether the aforementioned gold items or the new 20 PLN banknotes from the autumn of 2025, clearly indicates the priorities of the decision-makers. The NBP does not want cash to become a tool associated with high inflation. Instead of introducing a "thousand-zloty note," which could raise concerns about the purchasing power of savings, the bank prefers to control supply through proven, lower denominations. This is a safe conservatism that rules out a revolution in the wallets of Poles. In 2026, there is no room for a 1000 PLN banknote in store registers. The decision from two years ago remains in force.

Why does the 1000 PLN banknote still stir emotions?

The discussion, which revived again on March 29, 2026, does not stem from a real need to introduce the denomination for daily payments, but from a hunger for information about the condition of the Polish cash market. The recurring topic of 1000 zlotys is treated by observers as a barometer of confidence in the stability of the currency, rather than as a technical challenge for the payment system. In the public consciousness, a high denomination is a clear signal: is the state preparing for higher inflation, or is it merely facilitating cash management in circulation?

In economic practice, the highest denominations serve a function different from daily grocery shopping. International analyses show a clear regularity: high-value banknotes are used primarily for hoarding, i.e., safely storing capital outside the banking system, and not for paying electricity or fuel bills. The Polish debate still oscillates around this psychological aspect, ignoring the fact that the National Bank of Poland, in accordance with the statement of October 29, 2024, definitively withdrew from plans to introduce such a banknote into general circulation.

Instead of standard issues, the NBP consistently focuses on the collector market. This is confirmed by the numismatic offer, including coins weighing 31.1 grams of pure gold, which were announced on February 6, 2026. The central bank's strategy is clear: prestigious bullion issues satisfy the need for high denominations among investors, while in the wallets of Poles, as shown by the example of the 20-zloty issue from the autumn of 2025, the NBP prefers to focus on refreshing existing, lower denominations. For the citizen, this is a clear message – a thousand zlotys in paper will remain only an urban legend.

NBP Governor Adam Glapiński during a press conference on monetary policy.

Digitalization versus cash: Where is the NBP heading?

The National Bank of Poland is not changing its stance on the 1000 PLN banknote. Although speculation about the need to introduce a higher denomination appears regularly in the public sphere, the decision from October 2024 remains in force. There will be no issuance of the banknote for general circulation.

Instead, the NBP's strategy is clearly shifting the weight toward collector issues. The institution is consistently building the prestige of numismatics, an example of which is the banknote issued in February 2026 containing 31.1 grams of pure gold. This is a signal that the central bank treats physical money increasingly as a store of historical and investment value, and not just a tool for daily commodity exchange. Poles, who are increasingly turning to cashless payments, rarely feel the need in practice to have banknotes of such high nominal value in their wallets.

At the same time, the NBP is not abandoning cash in daily circulation, but its role is evolving. This is confirmed by the issue of the new 20 PLN banknote from October 2025 or the "Millennium of the Coronation of Bolesław the Brave" numismatic item. The bank promotes modern forms of payment, but at the same time takes care of the continuity of issuance tradition. Such a "two-speed" policy allows for satisfying the needs of collectors and history enthusiasts without interfering with the structure of denominations, which seems sufficient for the average consumer today.

For the market, this means stabilization. The NBP does not intend to revolutionize the wallets of Poles with the highest denomination, preferring instead the technological evolution of payment systems. Ultimately, in a world where digitalization dominates, issuing 1000 PLN in paper form would be merely a cosmetic procedure, not a response to the real needs of the economy. The central bank therefore prefers to invest in bullion and commemorative series, leaving cash circulation in its current form.

Summary: What to expect in the second half of 2026?

The National Bank of Poland is definitively cutting off all hopes of collectors and proponents of higher denominations. In the second half of 2026, we will not see a 1000 PLN banknote in our wallets. The office maintains the decision announced back in October 2024, when, after a wave of speculation, it was officially decided to abandon the introduction of money of such a high denomination into general circulation. The lack of any new signals from the central bank in recent months only confirms that this chapter has been closed.

The NBP's strategy is clear and predictable. The institution is consistently shifting the center of gravity to commemorative issues, which serve a more prestigious than functional role. Instead of popularizing high denominations, the bank is focusing on products for numismatists, which can be seen in recent market offers.

Here is what can realistically be expected in the coming months:

Continuation of commemorative issues, which attract interest mainly among collectors, not the average consumer shopping in a store.
Further promotion of unique numismatic editions, including banknotes made of precious metals, such as those containing 31.1 grams of pure gold.
Focusing attention on projects such as the 20 PLN banknote, which fits into the bank's existing issuance policy, bypassing the introduction of a paper "thousand" into general circulation.

The NBP's policy clearly shows that from the point of view of decision-makers, cash circulation in Poland does not require supplementation with a 1000 PLN banknote. Anyone who was counting on a change of course following the publications of March 2026 must verify their expectations. Instead of mass money, we are receiving luxury products that end up in safes, not wallets. This is a safe strategy, although disappointing for many Poles, as ultimately the resignation from a high denomination cements the status quo for the coming quarters. In 2026, the NBP does not intend to risk monetary experiments.

Presentation of a collector numismatic item with 31.1 grams of pure gold.

What this means for you

For the average Pole, the lack of a 1000 PLN banknote means the stability of current payment habits. The digital system, which is promoted by the NBP, will benefit from this, while collectors will benefit from unique bullion issues, which are becoming the bank's main issuance product.

Questions and answers

Will the 1000 PLN banknote enter circulation in 2026?

No, the NBP maintains its decision to abandon this denomination, which was already confirmed in October 2024.

What new banknotes have appeared in Poland recently?

In November 2025, the NBP issued a new 20 PLN banknote, and in February 2026, special numismatic items with 31.1 grams of pure gold were presented.

Why does the NBP not want to introduce a 1000 PLN banknote?

The central bank focuses on the stability of monetary policy and promotes cashless payments, considering the current set of denominations sufficient for market needs.

Sources

Article prepared by the Wiadomości PRO editorial team with the support of artificial intelligence. Facts are derived from the sources listed above.