Data from CRIF reveals that in 2024, residents of the Mazowieckie province took out the most loans, with their total value being the highest among all provinces—nearly 2.3 billion PLN. On the other end of the spectrum, residents of Podlasie demonstrated the lowest borrowing activity, both in terms of the number and total value of loans.
Most borrowers were existing customers of lending companies, with a decline in the influx of new clients. In 2024, Poles took out 4.22 million loans—an increase of nearly 444,000 compared to the previous year.
CRIF’s Lending Market Analysis
CRIF Polska has prepared a lending map of Poland—an analysis of the loan market’s performance by province for the period 2023-2024.
According to CRIF data, the total value of loans granted was significantly highest in Mazowieckie province, reaching 2.292 billion PLN in 2024 compared to 1.791 billion PLN the previous year. Additionally, Mazowieckie led in the number of loans issued. In 2023, 555,000 loans were granted, reflecting an increase of 54,000 year-on-year.
The provinces of Silesia and Greater Poland followed in terms of loan value. Silesia recorded 1.999 billion PLN in loans in 2024, while Greater Poland reached 1.626 billion PLN. These regions, like Mazowieckie, exhibit high economic activity, leading to greater demand for loans. Furthermore, Silesia and Greater Poland also had a high number of loans granted, ranking second and third in both 2023 and 2024 in terms of loan count.
“High lending activity in these regions may be linked to stronger economic conditions, a higher concentration of businesses, higher earnings, and larger populations. This translates into greater demand for financial services, as confirmed by our data. It is worth noting that the number of loan applications significantly exceeds the number of approved applications. Lending companies reject up to three-quarters of applications, partly due to their cautious credit policies,” said Jolanta Pytel, an expert at CRIF Polska.
Where Is Lending Activity the Lowest?
The lowest loan activity during the analyzed period was observed in the provinces of Podlasie, Świętokrzyskie, and Opole. In Podlasie, loans totaled 364 million PLN in 2024, up from 289 million PLN in 2023. In Opole, the total was 386 million PLN in 2024, while in Świętokrzyskie, it amounted to 375 million PLN. These regions also recorded the lowest number of loans issued.
“Lower loan activity in these provinces may be due to lower economic dynamics, smaller populations, or other local factors. It is important to note that borrowing decisions can be influenced by Poland’s current economic situation, marked by rising inflation and job market uncertainty. However, even in these provinces, there was an increase in loan issuance in 2024 compared to 2023. The growing demand for loans may be driven by the need to finance daily expenses or investment plans,” explained the CRIF Polska expert.
The Condition of Poland’s Loan Market
Data from the CRIF and ZPF report, “The Condition of the Loan Market in Poland,” indicate increased borrowing activity. In 2024, the total number of loans across all provinces reached 4.22 million, 444,000 more than in 2023, when the figure stood at 3.78 million. The data cover only the lending market, excluding the e-commerce sector.
“The rise in lending activity in 2024 is evident, driven by improved consumer sentiment, increased retail sales, and greater interest in short-term loans. At the same time, the sector faces challenges. The CRIF and ZPF report, which presents data from 90% of lending companies operating in Poland, shows that these companies primarily focus on serving existing customers. The share of new clients consistently declined throughout 2024, from 12.6% in January to 9.4% in December,” said Jolanta Pytel.
Source: Manager Plus
