Bartek Bokało smiling, wearing a white shirt and glasses, sitting in an armchair with a cup of coffee.

About Me

Helping expats navigate mortgages in Poland

I’m Bartek Bokało, a Mortgage Broker with almost two decades of experience helping people secure financing in Poland.

Since 2007, I’ve helped hundreds of clients navigate the Polish mortgage market. Today, I mainly work with English-speaking expats – people who, just like I once did, have chosen to build their lives away from their home country.

And there is a reason why I chose to specialise in this group.

I know what it feels like to be an expat

Before becoming a mortgage broker, I spent three years living in the UK, where I studied for my BA (Hons) at what was then the University of Central England in Birmingham, now Birmingham City University.

Living abroad taught me something that no textbook could: how difficult it can be to navigate a system when you don’t fully understand the language, the rules or the way things work.

You don’t always know what is different from your home country – and sometimes you don’t even know what questions you should be asking.

Mortgages are a perfect example.

The way banks assess income, calculate affordability, handle foreign documents, determine which currencies they can lend in, or evaluate residency status can be completely different from what you might expect.

I understand that uncertainty because I’ve experienced it myself.

My interest in different cultures started long before my expat-focused work

While studying in England, one of the modules I particularly enjoyed was Cross-cultural Understanding.

I’ve always enjoyed meeting people from different backgrounds and learning how people from different cultures approach everyday life, work and important decisions.

Today, that interest has become an important part of my work.

My clients have come from all over the world, including India, Argentina, France, Italy, Spain, Cameroon, Nigeria, the Philippines, New Zealand, Chile, the United States, Greece, Egypt and the UK.

Every situation is different. And that’s exactly what makes this work interesting.

Almost 20 years of mortgage experience

I entered the mortgage industry in 2007, after returning to Poland from the UK.

Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of clients and gained extensive experience with different types of employment, income structures, residency situations and property purchases.

I’m a registered mortgage broker under the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF), registration number RPH000558.

I hold a BA (Hons) degree from the UK as well as a Master’s degree from Poland.

But qualifications and regulations are only part of what makes a good Mortgage Broker.

The other part is knowing how the system actually works in practice – and knowing which bank is likely to be interested in a particular client’s situation.

My job is not simply to find you a mortgage

For an expat, choosing a mortgage is often about much more than comparing interest rates.

You need to know:

  • Which banks will accept your nationality and residency status
  • How your particular type of income will be assessed
  • Which documents you will need
  • Which banks are worth applying to – and which ones are likely to waste your time
  • How different banks calculate your borrowing capacity
  • What additional products and conditions come with each offer
  • What happens after your application is submitted
  • What you need to do before the bank releases the funds

That’s where my experience can make a real difference.

My goal is to make the process clear, predictable and as stress-free as possible.

You don’t need to come to my office

I work primarily with clients remotely, and in most cases there is no need for an in-person meeting.

My clients can go through the mortgage process online, including providing their information, comparing current mortgage offers, uploading documents and completing the information required by the banks.

This is particularly convenient for expats who may live in another city, travel frequently or simply prefer to handle things digitally.

I can guide you through the process from the first conversation all the way through to submitting applications, choosing an offer, signing the mortgage agreement and fulfilling the conditions required for the bank to release the loan.

Your mortgage should start with a strategy, not an application

One of the biggest mistakes I see is people applying to a bank before understanding whether that bank is actually a good fit for their situation.

A rejection can create unnecessary complications and, more importantly, waste valuable time.

That’s why I prefer to start by understanding you — your income, employment, residency, family situation, plans and the property you want to buy.

Then we can determine which options make sense and approach the banks accordingly.

You don’t need to become an expert in the Polish mortgage system.

That’s my job.

Let’s make your Polish mortgage easier

Whether you’re buying your first apartment in Poland, building a house, moving from renting to owning, or refinancing an existing mortgage, I’m here to help you understand your options and navigate the process.

You may be unfamiliar with the Polish banking system.

I don’t expect you to be.

You just need someone who understands it – and understands what it’s like to navigate it as an expat.

I’m Bartek Bokało, Mortgage Expert.

Let’s find out what is possible in your situation.