Banking sector overview | Banking today and tomorrow | October 2025

10 October 2025 | Banking today and tomorrow, Knowledge, News

Another tax increase is under challenge. Possible intervention by the US [ANALYSIS]

The government plans to increase income tax for banks, collecting an additional PLN 6.6 billion for next year’s budget. Unlike in the case of excise duty, there are signals from Karol Nawrocki’s circle that there may not be a veto on the bill this time. However, the government may have another problem. According to Business Insider Polska, rumours are circulating in the banking sector that Donald Trump’s administration may block the higher CIT. Two banks operating in Poland have American owners.

Source: Business Insider

Government in favour of raising CIT for banks

“The government has approved a bill amending the Corporate Income Tax Act and the Act on Tax on Certain Financial Institutions,” government spokesman Adam Szłapka announced at a press conference on Tuesday. According to the bill, the CIT rate for banks, which is currently 19%, will increase to 30% in 2026, 26% in 2027, and then to 23% from 2028 onwards. The Polish Bank Association and the Lewiatan Confederation oppose the tax increase.

Source: Prawo.pl

FOR: The CIT increase for banks will affect Poles

“Families will pay for the government’s tax aberrations,” says the FOR Foundation. This is the response of economists to Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s statement that “it is better to tax banks than Polish families”.

Source: Rzeczpospolita

Banks are heading for a record. The ZBP is forecasting profits for the end of 2025

According to estimates by the Polish Bank Association (ZBP), the last four months of 2025 may bring banks operating in Poland another PLN 10 billion in profits. This would set a new record, probably marking the last such good year. Forecasts for 2026 suggest that bank profits will decline to PLN 35 billion.

Source: Business Insider

It’s official: the UniCredit brand is returning to the Polish market. The Aion name is disappearing

According to information sent to customers by Aion Bank (…), on Monday, 6 October 2025, the brand will disappear from the Polish market. The institution’s official website address will also change to unicredit.pl, and the colour scheme will change to that of the Italian bank. The current Aion Bank website will redirect to the new site. Cards will also get a new look, although those currently held by customers will remain valid and will not be replaced before their normal expiry date.

Source: Cashless.pl

How does UniCredit intend to persuade Germans to approve the takeover of Commerzbank?

Despite the German government’s lack of support for the operation, UniCredit is not giving up on its plans to take over Commerzbank, writes Witold Gadomski. German banking circles are also opposed to the deal. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil have rejected the idea of a ‘hostile’ takeover and stated that they want Commerzbank to remain independent. To overcome this resistance, the Milan-based lender may propose increasing the number of German citizens on its board.

Source: Bank.pl

Mortgage sales were strong in August. BIK released new data

According to the Credit Information Bureau (BIK), the value of housing loans granted in Poland increased by 40.4% year-on-year in August to PLN 8.882 billion. The end of this year should be positive for the housing loan market, according to dr hab. Waldemar Rogowski, chief analyst at the BIK Group.

Source: Bankier.pl

Professor Marta Postuła: It’s time for a new approach to defence financing

Development banks currently serve as the missing link in defence financing, swiftly turning political decisions into actual contracts. Their public mission enables them to operate in areas where the private market is too cautious, says Prof. Marta Postuła, First Vice-President of BGK.

Source: Forbes.pl

30 banks interested in further talks on financing the Nuclear Power Plant

Following initial talks on financing the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant, 30 commercial banks from around the world have expressed interest in further participation, Piotr Piela, Vice-President of Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), announced during Energy Days in Katowice.

Source: PAP

The ‘Swiss franc mortgage act’ is getting closer – the Council of Ministers has approved the draft

The Council of Ministers has approved a bill on special measures for hearing cases concerning loans denominated in or indexed to the Swiss franc (CHF). The bill was submitted by the Minister of Justice and prepared by the Civil Law Codification Commission.

Source: Ministry of Justice

CJEU: Two more requests for a preliminary ruling from Poland regarding Swiss franc loans

Do banks have the right to charge interest to Swiss franc borrowers when the parties set off their claims after the Swiss franc loan agreements have been invalidated? Or could banks charge interest for late payment from the date of the demand for payment, even if this occurs before a final judgment declares these loans invalid? – the Regional Court in Warsaw has made two further requests for a preliminary ruling to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Source: Prawo.pl

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Latest Knowledge

The new National Cybersecurity System

The amendment to the Act on the National Cybersecurity System (UKSC) is one of the most significant regulatory reforms in recent years. Its main objective is to align Polish law with Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The directive, also known as NIS2, substantially raises digital security requirements across the Union. The Polish Act on the National Cybersecurity System has undergone a thorough overhaul, covering more organisations (with estimates suggesting nearly 40,000 entities), introducing more demanding obligations, statutory personal liability for management board members, and even more stringent rules for imposing financial penalties. In the case of the most serious violations, these penalties can reach 100 million PLN.

‘Made in Europe’ is no longer just a slogan. It is becoming law

Until recently, ‘Made in Europe’ was just a label. While it was useful for marketing purposes, it lacked any hard, normative content. This may soon change. On 4 March, the European Commission published a proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act, stipulating that, from 2027 onwards, the Union origin of components will be a prerequisite for participating in renewable energy auctions, accessing public funding, and for being eligible to participate in public procurement procedures. The slogan ‘Buy European’ could become a concrete instrument for supporting local production and controlling foreign investment.

Non-obvious cases of transferring an establishment to a new employer

The transfer of all or part of an establishment (zakład pracy) is a special concept in labour law relating to changes in ownership. Put simply, it is the automatic transfer of all the rights and obligations of the employer from one entity to another, without the need for any additional actions or consents from the parties involved. However, this must be preceded by the fulfilment of a range of informing obligations by both the new and former employers. Let’s take a look at what the process should involve.

New right to withdraw from a company – draft amendment to the Commercial Companies Code

The Civil Law Codification Commission has adopted and published a draft amendment to the Commercial Companies Code. The proposed changes include new mechanisms to strengthen shareholder protection in capital companies, enabling shareholders to request to leave their respective companies.

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?

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Weronika Magdziak-Śliwa

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Tomasz Leśko

Attorney-at-law / Partner / Disputes of Financial Institutions / Head of the Cracow Office

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