Innovation will enable public administration entities to accept non-cash payments from citizens. Current status-quo is only about 10% of local government units offering such functionality, although cashless payment transactions are quite common in the private sector and everyday use. It is envisaged for point of sale terminals to be free of rent-fees for public sector. Also the virtual terminals are introduced and are being well received by clients.

Our innovation is being implemented in the public sector entities and Police. There are already more than 800 participants from public administration units. Program was launched in August 2016 – first as a pilot – which gave us enough time to prepared for implementation of the target model in April 2017.

The Ministry of Economic Development, being the Leader supervises the Program and takes necessary legislative and promotional actions. The National Clearing House, acting as the Coordinator, develops both business and operational models for the Program, prepares its implementation and provides operational support. The National Clearing House cooperates with the appointed acquirer with regard to acceptance of cashless payments in public sector via point of sale terminals (cards, local mobile payment system BLIK). The National Clearing House also delivers and supports the virtual terminal service with regard to acceptance of mobile payments wtih use of mobilephones, without traditional point of sale terminal. The virtual terminal is the WebPOS Paybynet application on the clerk’s computer, connected directly to the mobile banking service platforms of multiple banks. The National Clearing House also carries out promotional and educational actions with the Ministry of Economic Development and the National Clearing House's Digitalization Development Foundation Cyberium.

Dedicated website was launched, containing all Program-related information, enabling the public sector to join and choose desired payment methods. In addition, the National Clearing House's Call Center is made available for public administration. Main educational and promotional activities dedicated to public administration and citizens: Conferences and meetings presenting economical, administrative and civic benefits of cashless payments; Competitions for public administration, local communities, and citizens, promoting the Program; Ministry of Economic Development/National Clearing House press releases and interviews in nationwide and local media, press conferences, Direct mailing of information on the Program and cashless payments. Before the Program was launched, less than 10% of public administration offices had accepted cashless payments. Almost 6 months after its initiation, 800 public administration offices have joined the Program.

More than 800 public administration units registered for the Program. 70 000 transactions have been made for the amount of over 8 million PLN. Our aim is to provide cashless payments for all public administration units in Poland.

Local government units, for example, are expected to adopt a special resolution allowing cashless payment in local administration. The Ministry of Economic Development is working to change legislation so that the resolutions are not obligatory. Customers value their habits, familiarity of the experience, shortening of processing times. Once the public administration units begin offering services combined with increased transaction and customer security they’ll start being associated with convenience, efficiency and will surely be perceived as modern, innovative and citizen-friendly.

Policy and rules, human and financial resources and widespread cooperation. It is very important to educate employees, try to change their habits in the office, etc. The basis is Communication. What we view as success in getting various entities from outside the public sector on board, as well as introduction of tangible change in the way the administration functions and customers' habits.

At this moment the Program is aimed at facilitating cashless payments in specific public administration units and Police but it could be easily widened, to encompass other entities.

Cooperation between private sector and government in vital in projects of this magnitude. Cooperation between the National Clearing House and Ministry of Economic Development was exemplary at every stage, same applies to contacts with local public administration units.