Payment cards gaining popularity in retail in Poland reaching 74,500 outlets

More than 100,000 gather in Czestochowa for mass to celebrate constitution Celebrations to commemorate the 209th anniversary of the enacting of the Polish constitution were held across the country. The largest gathering was held at the holy shrines in Czestochowa where a congregation of over 100,000 participated in the mass presided by the Catholic church's most senior priest in Poland, Cardinal Jozef Glemp. Senior bishops from all diocese used the May 3 holiday to deliver sermons to believers on an array of topics among them the need for tolerance, political correctness and coexistence. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 1) S.M. The network of retail outlets accepting payment cards increased by nearly 2,000 in the first quarter of this year reaching 74,500. PolCard comprised 57,500 of those outlets and Pekao serviced 17,000. The number of those places equipped with electronic terminals POS is increasing and reached 20,800. Until recently the network consisted mainly of hotels, gas stations, restaurants and pubs. The structure has changed in the previous year and the dominant position among places accepting payment cards are held now by clothing and shoe stores, transport services and travel agencies and home-appliances shops. According to the forecast of the Council of Credit Card Issuers the number of places honoring payment cards may rise to 110,000 including 25,000 equipped with POS by the end of this year. The maximum number of such places is estimated to be 300,000-400,000. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 14) M.M.