BNP Paribas' Polish unit posts 18% profit drop on higher taxes

BNP Paribas Bank Polska SA

12/08/2026 06:53

GDANSK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The Polish unit of France's BNP Paribas reported a second-quarter profit below market expectations on Wednesday, hit by impairment losses and a hike in corporate income tax.
Poland's government last year announced a hike in banks' corporate income tax to 30% for 2026 to fund increased defence spending.
BNP Paribas Bank Polska's BNP1.WA quarterly net profit fell 18% from a year ago to 599.8 million zlotys ($160.8 million), against analysts' average forecast of 611 million zlotys provided by the bank.
BNP Paribas BP's net interest income was 1.46 billion zlotys, in line with expectations and down slightly year-on-year
Polish banks are navigating a lower interest rate environment after the central bank cut rates several times since May 2025
Net fee and commission income grew 7.6% to 353 million zlotys, above the market forecast
Gross loan book grew 9.1% from a year ago, driven by growth in both consumer and mortgage lending
It set aside 42.8 million zlotys in legal risk provisions tied to consumer loans following an EU court ruling
The April ruling by the European Court of Justice barred lenders from charging interest on some loan costs
($1 = 3.7291 zlotys)

(Reporting by Alicja Surdy, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
((AlicjaEwa.Surdy2@thomsonreuters.com;))