Bank Zachodni WBK – Cashing out Bitcoin through Prepaid VISA Cards

This is a great post we found on the Silk Road forums – taken from the old forums (http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=210987) and now posted in this url (http://silkroad5v7dywlc.onion/index.php?topic=596.0) by a user called Oneiros Distribution – explaining how to cash out bitcoins using pre paid visa cards trough some polish bank, it started some debate if such information should be released or not, but since it was posted on the old forums and the new forums, we would guess its pretty well known by now so people might as well use it while its still working (it was confirmed as working by several users on the forums)

You can find on the same thread some vendors selling those pre paid card for easier access, we have edited the formatting for easier reading and added the images intext. enjoy:

A) Introduction

For those unaware there’s a Polish Bank named Bank Zachodni WBK who issue Anonymous Prepaid VISA Cards with their own IBAN. This Enables the Possibility of Moving Funds from Bitcoin Exchanges to these Types of Cards and then using it either to withdraw Funds from an Automated Teller Machine ( ATM ) or simply buying something Online. The primary three Variants of these Cards utilized are for the three Currencies EUR/Euro, GPB/Pound Sterling and USD/United States Dollar. If the Cards are used in a Transaction which Corresponds with the Currency of the Card itself there will be no additional Charges, however if the Currency doesn’t match up Bank Zachodni WBK will Charge a small Fee per Transaction. For specifics on the Terms of Use and Rules regarding the Cards refer to the Images in Section B) Physical Contents.

B) Physical Contents

When Orderings these Cards they are always Included in a Letter sent from Bank Zachodni WBK – I’ll include some Scanned Images of the Letter and the Contents inside. I’ve censored certain parts with green color with a black border around each such part.

The Letter dimensions are width 22.80 cm and height 11.30 cm, it weighs between 28.60 to 28.80 grams. A scan of the Front/back respectively of the Letter:

The handwritten “EU” at the left side is from the Vendor who probably does it to keep track of the type. This is how the Letter looks ripped opened on the inside:

First Page Front/Back:

Second Page Front/Back:

Third Page Front/Back [Sealed]:

Third Page Opened:

C) Online Registration

A Guide on how to register a “Bank Zachodni WBK – Prepaid VISA Card” online:

Start by going to: http://www.fakenamegenerator.com/advanced.php – go to “Name set” and pick Polish, then “Country” and pick Poland. Click generate and take note of the following fields: Name/Address ( Top Three Rows), Phone and PESEL. Depending on how advanced one wants to be it would be advisable to use a location where the Polish IP resides, but this is only for those overly cautious and might not even matter in the end. After you’ve noted this information go to https://www.centrum24.pl/prepaid/index?index=1491 and click on Rejestracja ( Register ).

Stage 1/4: Dane użytkownika ( User Data ): You will now be presented with the following screen/image:

• Rodzaj karty (Card Type; The type of Card you’re registering, pick “Karta prepaid”)
• Login (E-mail Login; What e-mail you intend to use for receiving E-Mail from the Bank)
• Hasło (Password; What password you’re going to use, keep in mind the password can only be 8-20 characters and has several restrictions – it will also have to be changed later if you intend to actually login)
• Potwierdź hasło (Confirm Password; Just the same password you’ve written in Hasło/Password)
• PESEL (Universal Electronic System for Registration of the Population; Polish National Identification Number, is located in the PESEL Field from fakenamegenerator)
• Telefon komórkowy (Phone Number; Located in the Phone Field from fakenamegenerator, also keep in mind to set the Area so it corresponds with the number)
• Imię (First Name; First name, is located in the Address Field from from fakenamegenerator)
• Nazwisko ( Surname; Last name, is located in the Address Field from from fakenamegenerator)
• Ulica ( Street; The main Address Line, is located in the Address Field from fakenamegenerator )
• Numer domu ( House Number; The Number for the Main Address Line, is located in the Address Field from fakenamegenerator. )
• Miejscowość ( City/Locality; The City the Address is located for, is located in the Address Field from fakenamegenerator. )
• Kod pocztowy ( Zip/Post-Code; The Zip/Post-Code, is located in the Address Field from fakenamegenerator. )

When everything has been filled in, click the green button at the bottom titled “Dalej” which translates into “Next/Further”.

Stage 2/4: Dane do rejestracji ( Registration Data ): You will be presented with the following screen/image:

At this point you should have the first page which looks like this:

with the Card from the Letter in front of you – Green Markings are just Censored and the Red Markings are Information of Interest for Later:

Remove the Card and take note of the Red Markings on the following image:

• Pełen numer rachunku karty ( Full Account Number; Fill in your IBAN which is 26 characters long, you can either find it on Page one by “Rachunek” or on the back of the Card Itself at the bottom. )
• 6 pierwszych cyfr numeru karty ( The first 6 digits of the Card Number; Fill in the first Six Numbers from your Card, for example almost certain 483047 indicates an EUR Card. )
• 4 ostatnie cyfry numeru karty ( The last 4 digits of the card number; Fill in the last Four Numbers from your Card, simple as that. )
• Dotychczasowy kod aktywacyjny The current Activation/PIN Code; Your current Active PIN, I’ve marked the location of where you can find it in the following image:
• 
• Nadaj PIN ( New PIN; Enter your New PIN Code which will be utilized for ATM Transactions. )
• Potwierdź nadany PIN ( Confirm New PIN; Enter the same PIN Code as above. )

There’s three options after this, not sure what difference it would make if checked or not but it’s probably advisable to have them checked as they are as default and just press the green button called “Dalej” which translates into Next/Further.

Stage 3/4: Weryfikacja danych ( Data Verification ): You will be presented with the following screen/image:

Here you will be presented with all Information you’ve provided so far. If it seems Correct just press the green buttom at the bottom called “Zakończ” which translates into “Finish”.

Stage 4/4: Potwierdzenie ( Confirmation ): You will be presented with the following screen/image:

You will get a Confirmation screen informing you the Account is created and that they’ve sent you an e-mail. Now go to the link: https://www.centrum24.pl/prepaid/index?index=1491
Click the red button “Logowanie” which stands for Login, fill in your information and Login. The first time you login you will be presented by the following screen/image:

 

• Dotychczasowe Hasło ( Current/Old Password; The Password you used for registering the Account to begin with. )

• Nowe Hasło ( New Password; Your New Password, has to be 8-20 characters in length and there’s several restrictions on what characters can be used. )

• Potwierdź nowe Hasło ( Confirm New Password; Write the same Password again as before. )

Press the green button called “Zapisz” which translates into “Save”. Congratulations, you’ve now successfully Registered your Card.
The Online Interface gives you access to detailed History over your Card(s) and most likely the function to send money to other Accounts ( haven’t investigated this Aspect so not familiar with how to use it ).

The most important reason/point of registering online is the fact you get to change your PIN Code, and secondarily I personally use it to see whenever the money has arrived at one card ( if I move funds over to say four cards with the same Account I only need to confirm it’s arrived at one most of the time ).

To transfer funds to your Card, simply take your IBAN and add the characters “PL” before, ie. PL##########################. For SWIFT (BIC code) use: WBKPPLPP

D) Frequently Asked Questions

D-01) Is it possible to register more than one card Per Person and what are the Terms set by the Bank on this matter?
D-02) Are there any known cases of these cards being shutdown and if so, why?
D-03) When withdrawing Money from the Cards one can see by logging in very specifically what ATM has been used down to a very narrow geographic location – does it have any relevance if one uses the exact same ATM for multiple different Cards? Ie. is there any risk Bank Zachodni WBK would flag Cards as suspicious if they see different people start withdrawing money from the exact same ATM in a very short time span?
D-04) Is there any Information if this Type of Service might eventually Expire in the Future or is nothing known about this?
D-05) Is there any way for a Bitcoin Exchange to verify the details used for Registering the Account? Ie. can they cross-reference the Name used on an Exchange with the one used for a specific IBAN?
D-06) Is there any Information regarding their Policy of Freezing Accounts? I’ve seen it mentioned they can Freeze the Account for three months if one attempts to withdraw twice near midnight, anything other than this?

D-01) Is it possible to register more than one card Per Person and what are the Terms set by the Bank on this matter?

TMan99: You always register it in a fake name, thats how they are anonymous… I don’t see what you are asking.
BioCanna: Its possible but if one card get flagged for suspicious behaviour all cards might get frozen.
DrugsAndCash:  First of all you don’t have to register this cards but yes of course for 1 identity you can register 10 cards maximum. But registration is useless and just wasting time.
everythingman: yes you can but what ? its anonimity card so you register it on fake data

D-02) Are there any known cases of these cards being shutdown and if so, why?

BioCanna: No, i havent encountered a blocked card(besides 3months block caused by double withdrawing around midnight).
DrugsAndCash: Yes I’m victim of case you described. Card has been blocked due to many small transactions from different people as loadings so bank flagged it as card used to receive business payments what is strictly prohibited.
everythingman: yes if you exceed a limit and if the bank have a suspicion to money laundering ( but its unlikely if you dont register few cards on the same name )

D-03) When withdrawing Money from the Cards one can see by logging in very specifically what ATM has been used down to a very narrow geographic location – does it have any relevance if one uses the exact same ATM for multiple different Cards? Ie. is there any risk Bank Zachodni WBK would flag Cards as suspicious if they see different people start withdrawing money from the exact same ATM in a very short time span?

BioCanna: Theres always risk but for now no one seems to check that matter and it works well .
DrugsAndCash: This can’t be the reason for flagging or blocking card. Flagging or blocking card is caused only by discovering by bank that card is funded from illegal money like funds from paypal scams or stolen from another bank account.
everythingman: low risk because you can withdraw about 150 -200 cash daily and the most step in this is never show you face on ATM camera. This card is to withdraw cash in short time – its to holiday expenses

D-04) Is there any Information if this Type of Service might eventually Expire in the Future or is nothing known about this?

BioCanna: Poland is bound to USA and its possible that one day strict policies like in USA will come here to Poland and those cards wont be so easy to aquire anonymously.
DrugsAndCash: It won’t expire till goverment won’t change law so I think it will always exist.
everythingman: i haven’t any information but i monitoring situation

D-05) Is there any way for a Bitcoin Exchange to verify the details used for Registering the Account? Ie. can they cross-reference the Name used on an Exchange with the one used for a specific IBAN?

BioCanna: Withdraw from bitcoin exchange will only go through if all data matches (banks and exchanges:name address…).
DrugsAndCash: I can help you in this point by giving you exchanger which doesn’t require verification.
everythingman: No they not verify you should find exchange which don’t interesting IBAN they clientc like btc-e , bitcurex itp

D-06) Is there any Information regarding their Policy of Freezing Accounts? I’ve seen it mentioned they can Freeze the Account for three months if one attempts to withdraw twice near midnight, anything other than this?

BioCanna: No, nothing that i know of.
DrugsAndCash: Instant withdrawals after midnight can be the reason of freezing card so we don’t recommend it but you can decrease this risk by doing some payments in stores using card.
everythingman: yes if you withdraw on 23;55 you can cash out next on 00;02 cus its new day and its suspicion for him. i think that its only my word

E) Potential Scams

Almost every Single Vendor who’s ever Offered or will ever Offer these Cards get Accusations of that the Information from the Cards have been Stolen and used to withdraw Funds from them. I’ve personally went through all Information I’ve been able to find on this Subject and there is unfortunately no Conclusive Information or Evidence. However if anyone has Trouble with this in the Future post here and answer the following Questions:

* Can you remember if the Letter looked tampered with?
* What type of Card was it, ie. USD, EUR, or GPB?
* Was the Card registered Online ( ie. did you change the PIN ) ?
* What did the Information say online about where the Money went ( they have VERY specific Information available if it’s through ATM ) ?
* At what exact time/date did the Money disappear, when was money Deposited into the Account?

F) Final Notes

While these Cards aren’t exactly the Ideal Solution as long as they’re not Banned they will always be a viable Fallback Method for any Vendor planning to Cash out Bitcoin into Fiat Money. There are other Polish Banks like for example iBRE but this thread will detail only those of Bank Zachodni WBK as they’re vastly Cheaper and more popular in Comparison. Eventually this Method will very likely be Phased Out in favor of Better Alternatives, but until that Day this Information might prove Useful for Upcoming Vendors who aren’t that familiar with Methods of Cashing Out Bitcoins.

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