Bank Pekao recorded solid financial results in the first quarter of 2026, supported by very strong growth in its loan portfolio. Risk costs remained very low, while the bank continued to advance its digitalization strategy and expand activity in digital channels. Year-on-year comparability was affected, among other factors, by significantly higher contributions to the Bank Guarantee Fund and a change in the tax regime.
Reported net profit in Q1 2026 amounted to PLN 1.232 billion, compared with PLN 1.685 billion a year earlier. Net interest income stood at PLN 3.312 billion, versus PLN 3.414 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. Fee and commission income increased to PLN 829 million in January–March 2026, up from PLN 732 million a year earlier, marking growth of more than 13%.
“We are starting 2026 with a solid quarter. What deserves attention is the scale of lending growth, which has not been seen for a long time. The increase in the loan portfolio allowed us to support net interest income despite a lower level of market interest rates. We are doing everything to become the bank of first choice and strengthen our competitive position. Our ambition is to grow faster than the market,” said Cezary Stypułkowski, President of Bank Pekao.
In the first quarter of 2026, total loans increased by 11%, while corporate loans, including corporate banking and enterprise banking segments, rose by as much as 16.4%. The volume of cash loans also grew strongly, with the bank reporting an increase of more than 14% and PLN 2 billion in net new sales in Q1 2026 alone. Digital channels accounted for 90% of these loan sales.
The bank also continued to expand its retail customer base and attract younger clients. In Q1 2026, Bank Pekao opened 113,500 Konto Przekorzystne and Świat Premium accounts, 30% of which were opened for customers under the age of 26. Under its strategy, the bank plans to increase the number of young customers to 1.4 million in 2027, up from 1.1 million in 2024.
Bank Pekao’s capital position remains traditionally strong. At the end of March, the group’s total capital ratio stood at 17.7%, while its Tier 1 ratio was 15.2%. In both cases, the ratios remained well above regulatory minimums.
In spring last year, Bank Pekao announced its strategy through 2027. By the end of the strategy period, the bank aims to achieve ROE above 18%, a cost-to-income ratio below 35%, and 4.4 million active mobile customers.
At the end of Q1 2026, ROE, including the annualized cost of the Bank Guarantee Fund, stood at 17.1%. The cost-to-income ratio, including the annualized BFG cost, was 37.2%, or 34.6% excluding the BFG contribution. The number of active mobile banking users rose to 3.79 million at the end of March.
The increase in BFG contributions reduced Bank Pekao’s consolidated net profit in Q1 2026 by PLN 110 million year on year.
Risk costs remained low in Q1 2026, at 37 basis points. The bank’s target cost of risk for the end of 2027 is 65–75 basis points.
