Banking sector overview | Banking today and tomorrow | March 2024

7 March 2024 | Banking today and tomorrow, Knowledge, News

Can banks meet the credit needs of the Polish economy?

The Polish banking sector is too small and too taxed to be able to finance the needs of the economy on an adequate scale. (…) “We are responsible for 80% of the financing of the so-called real sphere, i.e. all entities that are not included in the financial sector. The decline in lending is an obvious problem for the Polish economy. It is also an illustration of our capabilities,” said Włodzimierz Kiciński.

Source: Bank.pl

From WIBOR to WIRON. When and what will change for borrowers?

When discussing the role of the WIBOR benchmark in the Polish financial system, experts and regulators emphasise its key function and robust control procedures. As the basis for setting lending rates, it is monitored by the Financial Supervision Authority (KNF), which ensures transparency and market stability. The planned changeover to WIRON is aimed at meeting global standards and strengthening customer confidence.

Source: Dziennik Gazeta Prawna

WIBOR manipulation by banks. How much truth is there? [OPINION]

Recently there have been reports in the media that the WIBOR benchmark is being manipulated by banks. The first question to answer is what is WIBOR and how does it work, which can tell us a great deal about the possibilities of manipulating it.

Source: Business Insider

Ministry of Finance: We are completing work on the credit holiday, we will soon publish the draft

The Ministry of Finance assures: “Our intention is to provide solutions that protect borrowers, in a situation where interest rates remain high. The Ministry of Finance has been asked to prepare and present additional information and scenarios, following questions regarding the use of certain solutions and their impact on the economy.”

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza

Polish Bank Association (ZBP): Banks sold 162,000 mortgages in 2023

“Despite the fact that the banking sector granted a record number of mortgage loans, the numerical result achieved remains at the same level as in 2004, i.e. 162,000. However, the dynamics and value of the market is demonstrated by the value of the loans – in 2023 this amounted to PLN 62.8 billion, more than four times higher than in 2004, when it was PLN 15.2 billion,” says the ZBP report.

Source: Puls Biznesu

Post-Safe Mortgage landscape. Five key charts on the mortgage market

The mortgage market has experienced a brief boom fuelled by subsidies. But the boost in sales is not the only effect of the ‘Safe 2% Mortgage’. We present the five most interesting findings from last year’s summary.

Source: Bankier.pl

Cyber criminals take ‘click loans’ instead of customers

There has been an exponential increase in the number of complaints to the Financial Ombudsman about loans that were not knowingly taken out by customers, but by cyber criminals using social engineering and hacking techniques. In such situations, the onus is on the bank to prove that the transaction was authorised.

‘Click loans’ are fast loans offered by banks that customers can obtain from a bank transaction website without contacting a bank employee. The loans are granted automatically and their limits are set by the banks based on their knowledge of their own customers’ financial situation. These loans are a very convenient solution for consumers, but the problem arises when unauthorised persons gain access to the account.

Green light for the European wallet. Legislation to facilitate use of digital services in the EU

The EU wallet is designed to make it easier to authenticate online when using public and private services. The European Parliament has given the green light to a project to create an EU digital identity wallet. This is a tool that may make it easier for EU citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online, giving them remote access to public and private services and allowing them to sign documents online. The regulation adopted yesterday still needs to be approved by the Council of the European Union before it can enter into force.

Source: Cashless.pl

Licence or blockade – crypto service providers face a new phase

The first version of the draft law on cryptocurrencies has seen the light of day. The Financial Supervision Authority will supervise the market in Poland. Among other things, the law provides for the possibility of blocking, at the level of internet providers, access to the interfaces of entities operating without the necessary licence.

Source: Bankier.pl

Global public debt in 2024 will be more than 50% higher than before the pandemic

Experts at S&P Global Ratings forecast that the 137 countries covered will raise the equivalent of USD 11.5 trillion in long-term debt on financial markets in 2024. This is an increase of 8% from 2023 and more than 50% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Source: Bank.pl

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Latest Knowledge

Protecting yourself against tax risks in the deposit-return system

The deposit-return system has been in place since October 2025, raising significant tax concerns from the outset. Although the regulations came into force, it was unclear for a long time how to apply them in practice. Some of the regulations needed clarification, some solutions were missing and the published explanations did not cover all the key issues. Consequently, the market began to develop its own operating standards.

Banking sector overview | Banking today and tomorrow | March 2026

On 12 February 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued a judgment concerning the use of the WIBOR index in loan agreements. The CJEU judges confirmed that, in consumer cases, courts cannot examine the correctness of the WIBOR calculation. The banks had correctly informed their clients about the reference rate in accordance with national and EU law.

The issue of the National Labour Inspectorate reform has resurfaced

A new draft law proposing changes to the way the National Labour Inspectorate operates has been submitted to the Sejm. During its first reading on 25 February, the draft was not rejected and was therefore referred to the Social Policy and Family Committee for further consideration. Despite the concerns and controversies raised so far, including by businesses, the legislature continues to pursue the thorough modernisation of Poland’s employment model, which involves increased supervision of the labour market and curbing the abuse of civil law contracts. In this article, we will take a look at the proposals included in the new draft and explain what they mean for businesses.

Energy Radar 2026: Unlocking connection capacity thanks to connections reform – draft UC84 / Sejm print no. 2150

The Polish power system has reached a turning point. While the energy transition is gaining momentum and technological limitations are no longer an issue, connection capacity has become a problem. The UC84[1] draft law, commonly referred to as the Connections Reform, is the response to this crisis.

Polish AI boom

According to the latest data, nearly 15,000 companies dealing with artificial intelligence were registered in Poland in 2025.[1] This testifies to an undoubted boom in AI, as well as to the dynamic changes related to the development of this technology. However, amid the rush to implement AI, do companies consider the most important issue: securing the outcomes of their work and protecting themselves against competitors? In this article, we explore this issue and suggest ways to avoid costly problems.

Length of service now includes periods of self-employment

The length of service no longer depends solely on work carried out under a contract of employment. The amendment to the Labour Code introduces significant changes, as work carried out under civil law contracts or as part of business activity will now also be included when calculating service, which affects employees’ rights. What will this mean for employees and employers?

The Energy Regulatory Office is embracing innovation – submit your project by 20 February!

Regulatory sandboxes support the implementation of the European Green Deal and accelerate the energy transition and development of smart, secure and sustainable energy networks.

Banking sector overview | Banking today and tomorrow | February 2026

The Polish banking sector is undergoing intense reshuffling on a scale not seen for years. Large banks are changing owners, foreign players are shifting their strategies and new investors are entering the market. The question is whether these are just temporary shifts in capital or the beginning of lasting change in the industry’s balance of power.

31 January. Don’t forget about the DAC7 Directive

The deadline for meeting the obligations under the DAC7 directive and the Polish regulations implementing it is fast approaching. Online platform operators must fulfil their reporting obligations by 31 January 2026 at the latest with regard to 2025 data. For many, this is the final opportunity not only to prepare the required information, but also to verify whether DAC7 obligations apply to them and, if so, to what extent.

Can an employer seek reimbursement of remuneration paid under a contractor agreement?

Although claims for the restitution of undue performance are generally dismissed, exceptions are allowed in certain circumstances. Let’s look at some situations in which the restitution of remuneration is feasible and instances when the courts do rule in favour of employees.