Adverts aimed at the "Polish pound" are commonplace

The bank is joining other financial institutions and retailers in targeting them as customers.

Lloyd's Silver account, available to all immigrants, offers a money transfer card so that cash can be sent home.

The card can be loaded with cash and sent abroad, where a nominated friend or family member can spend the money.

A spokeswoman for Lloyds TSB said its research had found that sending money back home was a top priority for recent Polish immigrants.

"Over two-fifths of respondents recently transferred money back to Poland and nearly three-quarters plan to do so again in the near future," she said.

Pre-pay card

Most send back between �100 and �500 every one or two months to support their families back home or boost their savings there.

The cash card - operated by Visa - is a pre-pay card rather than a debit card, so it cannot be used to spend more than its �750 limit, or draw down money directly from the account.

However, it can be topped up to this limit by the account holder three times a day.

The bank said that once the card is sent back to Poland, a nominated friend or family member will have to activate it by calling Lloyds TSB.

They can then start using it, with a Pin number, to take money out of an ATM or buy goods wherever Visa cards are accepted.

Joining the EU

Since Poland joined the EU in 2004, its people have been free to move to the UK and look for work.

It has been estimated that they are the biggest group among the 600,000 people - plus spouses and children - that have come to the UK from the eight former eastern bloc countries who joined the EU that year.

Their impact has been obvious up and down the country, with many cities and towns now having a new Polish community.

Shops and supermarkets have been quick on the uptake, stocking their shelves with packets, tins and jars of Polish food aimed at the new arrivals.

Banks have spotted the business opportunity too. HSBC launched its Passport account last year, which offered cheap international money transfers, while Barclays has been recruiting Polish speakers to work in some of its branches.