BLIK keeps up the pace - nearly half a billion transactions in Q3 2023
BLIK closes Q3 2023 with growth across all channels. From July to September this year, the system's users made 455m transactions totalling PLN 63bn (EUR 14.3bn). Since the beginning of the year there have been as many as 1.3bn transactions with the total of PLN 171bn (EUR 38.9bn). BLIK is the most frequently used e-commerce payment method. The volume of BLIK phone transfers and payments at terminals also grows dynamically from quarter to quarter. In the analysed period, 227.9m, 109m and 101.7m operations were recorded in the aforementioned three channels, respectively.
Sharp increase of daily number of BLIK transactions
The popularity of BLIK continues to grow – it is reflected in the number of active users. At the end of Q3 2023, there were already almost 15m of them. Between July and September this year, they completed 455m transactions – this is an increase of 40% compared to the same period last year. This also means that BLIK was used to pay (on average) 4.9m times a day, i.e. 40% more than in the same period of 2022. On the best day of the quarter, the total of more than 7m transactions were recorded across all BLIK channels (e-commerce, POS, P2P, ATM). The total value of BLIK payments increased year-on-year by 47% to PLN 63bn (EUR 14.3bn).
Consumers rely on BLIK in e-commerce
BLIK remains the unrivalled payment method in e-commerce. In Q3 2023, one in every two transactions was made via this channel. Between July and September this year, customers paid for online purchases 227.9m times: 28% more than in the same period in 2022. In the quarter under review, the value of online transactions reached PLN 31.2bn (EUR 7.1bn) compared to PLN 22.1bn (EUR 5bn) a year earlier. The average value of a single online purchase was PLN 137 (EUR 31).
The number of people who prefer to shop online is steadily increasing. This is reflected in the number of BLIK transactions in the online channel. The virtual world tempts with convenience and the absence of hidden costs that inevitably accompany stationary shopping, such as travel or parking fees. It comes as no surprise, then, that during the holiday season, Polish consumers have most frequently paid using our system on marketplace platforms and in online clothing shops, where the average shopping baskets amounted to PLN 121 (EUR 27.5) and PLN 219 (EUR 49.8), respectively. The busiest shopping period of the year is ahead of us. We can expect that BLIK, as a payment method, will remain vital for many consumers who value speed and convenience
- says Monika Król, Vice President of the Polish Payment Standard, the operator of the BLIK mobile payment system.
Increase in offline transactions
Between July and September this year, transactions at traditional payment terminals enjoyed considerable popularity among BLIK users. In the analysed period, the number of operations carried out at payment terminals exceeded 100m for the first time. In turn, their value amounted to PLN 5.3bn (1.2 bn). A significant influence on the results obtained in this channel was the steadily increasing interest in BLIK contactless payments. In Q3 2023, they amounted to 37m, which is as much as 72% more than in the same period in 2022. Since the service became available, as many as 2.4m people have already activated it and paid with it in 136 countries worldwide.
More than 15.6m users can get P2P transfers
BLIK phone transfers, which already account for almost a quarter of all BLIK transactions, also recorded further dynamic growth in the third quarter of this year. In the period covering the two holiday months, system users used them 109m times – 68% more than a year earlier. The value of money transferred in this way amounted to PLN 15.6bn (EUR 3.6bn) (a 90% year-on-year increase), while the average value of a BLIK phone transfer in this period was PLN 151 (EUR 34.3).
The P2P service, allowing for instant settlements without the need to know the recipient's bank account number, keeps on gaining more followers. Currently, more than 15.6m phone numbers are already registered to receive transfers to the phone. We believe that the recent addition of Nest Bank and Bank Pocztowy to the group of entities offering this BLIK product will only translate into further growth. Given the extraordinary popularity of the transfer to the phone, we decided to make it the main character of our ‘Strofki BLIKA’ campaign. Through light-hearted, humorous spots, we show how simple it is to remind your loved ones and your friends about financial arrears. This is the first such BLIK campaign that has been adapted to people with visual and hearing disabilities
- Monika Król stresses.
Q3 2023 also saw a steady increase in ATM cash withdrawals. During the period under review, 16.3m transactions were made at ATMs. The number of deposits and withdrawals increased year-on-year by almost a fifth. Their value reached PLN 10.8bn (EUR 2.5bn), and the average single transaction was PLN 664 (EUR 151.2).
Brand appreciated by the customers and the market alike
BLIK's recognition is constantly growing. This has been confirmed by both market research and industry rankings and competitions. This year, BLIK once again has proven its strength, having won the first place in the electronic payments category of the 'Top Brand' ranking. Recently, the brand has also been honoured with a golden Effie in the ‘Finance & Insurance’ category, as well as a bronze in the 50+ category for the 'Be a Payment Cat' campaign (Bądź kotem płatności). The awards confirm the effectiveness and innovative character of BLIK; it has been increasingly perceived both as a convenient payment method and also as a brand that is close to its users as well as secure and accessible in any situation.
BLIK is a common standard for mobile payments. Currently, virtually every customer of domestic payment institutions offering a mobile application has the option of using BLIK in mobile banking applications. Polish Payment Standard (Polski Standard Płatności, PSP) is responsible for the development of the system. PSP constantly develops BLIK's capabilities so that the system is as functional as possible. The shareholders of PSP are: Alior Bank, Bank Millennium, Santander Bank Polska, ING Bank Śląski, mBank, PKO Bank Polski, and Mastercard.
For further information, please contact:
Klaudia Rombalska
BLIK Press Office
E klaudia.rombalska@clearcom.pl
