Polish banking sector profits to fall in 2026, industry body says

Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski SA

27/01/2026 11:20

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Total net profit in Poland's banking sector is expected to fall to around 30.8 billion zlotys ($8.7 billion) in 2026 from between 44.1 billion and 46.1 billion zlotys last year, the Polish Bank Association (ZBP) said on Tuesday.

ZBP said this drop would be driven by lower interest rates, which are estimated to pull the result 18.4% lower, and a rise in corporate taxes on banks, with an estimated negative impact of 14.8%.

The National Bank of Poland cut rates six times last year by a total of 175 basis points, taking the main rate to 4.00%. The easing followed cooling inflation, which slowed to 2.4% in December, broadly in line with the central bank’s 2.5% target.

The banking industry body said the scope for growth in banks’ loan books in 2026 was limited, with no clear signs of a meaningful improvement in lending to companies.

Earlier this month, the CEO of PKO BP PKO.WA, Poland’s biggest bank by assets, said that further earnings growth would require a shift away from relying on interest margins as falling rates squeeze lenders.

($1 = 3.5382 zlotys)

(Reporting by Rafal Nowak and Alicja Surdy in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)

((RafalWojciech.Nowak@thomsonreuters.com; +48 58 769 66 63;))