Polish Bank Association Warns Against Destabilising the Bank Sector

Polish Bank Association issued an open letter in which the members warn against the President’s bill which aim is to help Polish mortgagors. Bankers say that if the bill is passed, the move may have dire consequences to the entire banking sector in Poland.

The bill in question concerns thousands of mortgage payers who hold CHF-denominated loans and experience negative effects of Swiss franc price fluctuations. The provisions were prepared by experts from the President’s Office and offer assistance to Poles who find themselves in difficult financial situation due to circumstances they had no control over. The proposals have recently been approved by Sejm commission and will be moved forward onto the legislative path.

The bill in its current form introduces e.g. Mortgagors Support Fund that will offers zero interest loans for those debtors who even after selling their property are unable to settle their liabilities. Financial support will last up to 36 months. Moreover, people with mortgages in CHF will be allowed to convert their debt into PLN. The Polish bank association will be obligated to make quarterly payments towards the so-called Conversion Fund which will be used to finance this solution.

According to the Association members, the solutions put forward in the bill are extreme. They argue the new law will mean higher costs of functioning for the Polish bank association in Poland and a hike in bank charges as well as mortgage payments for all clients. Moreover, there is some talk of the proposed provisions being incoherent with EU regulations on public aid. The Polish bank association operating in Poland, such as Raiffeisen, Santander and Deutsche Bank, voiced concerns over the the bill.

Interestingly, according to polls, Polish people are not in favour of special help from the state to CHF mortgagors. Most people see it as unfair. Currently in Poland there are approximately 820 thousand people who hold mortgage in Swiss currency.

Implications for Banking and Business

Developments in the Polish banking sector affect businesses operating in the country in several ways. Access to corporate banking services, credit availability, deposit rates, and payment infrastructure are all critical factors for companies — whether established Polish firms or foreign-owned entities entering the market.

For foreign entrepreneurs setting up operations in Poland, choosing the right banking partner is a strategic decision. Major Polish banks including mBank, ING Bank Śląski, Bank Millennium, PKO BP, and Santander Poland offer varying levels of service for international clients, including English-language online banking, multicurrency accounts, and dedicated relationship managers for corporate clients.

The Polish banking market is well-regulated by the KNF (Financial Supervision Authority) and participates in the EU deposit guarantee scheme (BFG — Bank Guarantee Fund), providing deposit protection up to EUR 100,000 per depositor per institution. This regulatory framework provides stability and confidence for businesses maintaining corporate funds in Polish banks.

If you are doing business in Poland or considering entering the Polish market, Zalewski Consulting can help. Learn more about our bank account opening services, or contact us for a free consultation.