Legislative overview | Banking today and tomorrow

8 September 2022 | Banking today and tomorrow, Knowledge, News

Amendment to the Act on Liability of Collective Entities for Prohibited Acts Subject to Penalty (corporate criminal liability)

The key change is a new definition of collective entity limiting the scope of such entities. According to the bill, the Act will be applicable to:

  • Collective entities employing at least 500 persons in at least one of the last two financial years, or
  • Entities with an annual net turnover from the sale of goods, products and services and from financial operations exceeding €100 million.

The final version of the bill is expected to be presented in Q3 2022.

Amendment of the legislation on mortgage agreements

The Senate amendments to the amendment on mortgages and the supervision of mortgage brokers and agents.

The amendments extend applicability of the law to cover loan agreements – in the case of a loan secured by a mortgage, the mortgage agreement may specify the additional cost of the loan to be borne by the consumer until the mortgage is registered.

The European Banking Authority against terrorist financing

The European Banking Authority has published guidelines setting out the roles and responsibilities of the AML/CFT compliance officer and of the management body of credit or financial institutions.

Financial media overview

  • A bill to amend the Act on Competition and Consumer Protection, according to which, among other things, the powers of the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) are extended. The bill is currently being assessed.
  • Draft ordinance of the Council of Ministers to change the list of procedures and services in which an electronic document and certificate can be used to establish the identity of a Ukrainian citizen. The ordinance is scheduled for adoption in Q3 2022.

Sectoral AML Service Centre

The National Clearing House (KIR) and the Polish Bank Association (ZBP) are launching a solution to streamline the detection of illegal transactions.

The Sectoral Service Centre has been tasked to provide structural and organisational assistance to banks in fulfilling their obligations under money laundering regulations.

Inflation in the eurozone

Inflation in the eurozone reached 9.1% in August and turned out to be higher than expected. This may result in the European Central Bank hiking its key interest rate by up to 75 bps at its meeting of 8 September.

Rising inflation in the eurozone is also the reason why the European Central Bank has introduced a new asset purchase programme – the Transmission Protection Instrument (TPI), which is designed to limit yield spreads between member states’ bonds.

Any questions? Find out how we assist banks and financial institutions.

Latest Knowledge

Banking in 2026: technology, regulation and the new market landscape

The year 2026 will see the banking sector undergo its most dynamic transformation in a decade. The trends identified in Accenture’s Top Banking Trends FY26 report suggest that the sector is entering a phase in which technology and regulation will be inseparable, driving all aspects of change. However, it is regulation that determines the boundaries, pace and manner of implementation for new solutions. We take a look at what else the experts are focusing on.

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.

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.