The author touches upon a topic of particular and immediate interest for the banking sector, that is payments made to so-called mass creditors, i.e. telecommunication companies, power companies, cable TV operators, etc. It is estimated that the number of customer invoices mailed by these companies reach several dozen million per month. As a very special segment of the retail payment market, it is particularly attractive for institutions servicing retail settlements.

The author offers a short description of various methods used by individuals to make regular payments with particular emphasis on a new service that allows clients to pay invoices in cash while shopping in big shopping malls or fuel stations.

The article contains a short description of the banking sector policy regarding mass payment that indirectly led to the emergence of this new payment mode, competitive for banks and the Polish Postal System. In addition, development of mass payments is analysed to identify directions in the evolution of the payment system. In the second part of the article, the author provides justification of the thesis that, in the future, mass payments will be primarily made in the form of non-cash transactions, including direct debit. What remains unknown is the period needed for the establishment of similar customer behaviour in Poland to that in the western countries.

Direct debit is a form of monetary settlement specifically designed for mass payments. It is a convenient and safe solution for both the client (debtor) and the creditor. Due to a lack of adequate promotion and product recognition, it currently remains under-used by bank account holders in terms of its capacity for facilitating mass payments.