In February 2026, banks and credit unions in Poland significantly increased sales of most key lending products compared with the same month a year earlier. The strongest growth once again came from mortgage lending, with the number of newly granted home loans rising by 54.1% and their total value surging by as much as 67.4%. Instalment and cash loans also recorded growth, while the credit card segment delivered weaker results.
The data shows that, in numerical terms, financial institutions issued more of three types of loans: mortgages (+54.1%), instalment loans (+27.9%) and cash loans (+3.4%). The only product to decline was credit cards, with the number issued falling by 2.1%. In value terms, positive growth was recorded in mortgages (+67.4%), instalment loans (+12.5%) and cash loans (+11.4%), while the value of newly issued credit cards slipped by 0.3%.
Data for the first two months of 2026 also points to a clear predominance of increases over declines. Between January and February, banks and credit unions granted more mortgages (+41.8%), instalment loans (+26.9%) and cash loans (+2.2%), while issuing fewer credit cards (-7.6%). The value of lending activity increased for mortgages (+53.0%), instalment loans (+11.0%) and cash loans (+7.6%), while falling by 0.8% for credit cards.
Instalment loans post strong year-on-year growth
The instalment loan segment maintained positive year-on-year momentum. In February 2026, the number of newly granted instalment loans was 27.9% higher than a year earlier. At the same time, compared with January, it fell by 15.1%. The value of instalment loan sales also increased year on year, by 12.5%, although it declined by 0.6% month on month.
The February data indicates that interest in this product is clearly higher than at the beginning of 2025, but consumers are increasingly choosing lower loan amounts. This is confirmed by a 12.1% decline in the average value of an instalment loan. In February 2026, the average amount of such a loan stood at PLN 2,055.
“Further growth in wages, although no longer as strong as in previous years, as well as a potential further decline in interest rates, will support stronger activity in the instalment loan segment. These two factors will create room in household budgets for another loan among consumers already repaying other types of debt. The return of favourable conditions in instalment lending may also be linked to the improvement in the mortgage market. Purchases of household appliances and consumer electronics for newly acquired properties are often financed through attractive instalment loans. One factor that could negatively affect demand for instalment loans, however, is rising uncertainty related to the conflict in the Middle East. If prolonged, it could lead on the one hand to higher inflation and on the other to an economic slowdown, which would encourage consumers to cut spending and increase savings,” said Professor Waldemar Rogowski, Chief Analyst at the BIK Group.
Cash loans growing more slowly, but for increasingly larger amounts
The cash loan segment continued to expand, although the pace remained moderate. In February this year, the number of newly granted cash loans increased by 3.4% year on year, while their value rose by 11.4%. This means the market is growing more through higher financing amounts than through a greater number of new loans.
High-value cash loans, especially those exceeding PLN 50,000, are becoming increasingly important. In February, the average value of a newly granted cash loan reached PLN 29,108, up 7.8% compared with February 2025. This also marks a record high.
“The trend of taking out cash loans for increasingly larger amounts is gaining momentum. Lending activity is being driven mainly by high-value cash loans above PLN 50,000. In February this year, the average value of a newly granted cash loan exceeded PLN 29,000, which is a historic result. There is therefore a strong probability that the PLN 30,000 threshold will be exceeded already this year. Such high loan amounts are possible thanks to a combination of three positive factors that increase creditworthiness: longer loan terms, lower interest rates on new loans as a result of rate cuts, and real wage growth. This is supporting the consolidation of previously existing debt, which is currently the main driving force behind lending activity,” the BIK Group’s Chief Analyst concluded.
Mortgages remain the strongest segment
The mortgage market once again delivered the best results. In February, banks granted 54.1% more home loans than a year earlier and also recorded growth compared with January 2026, this time by 8.5%. The value of newly granted mortgages increased even more strongly, rising by 67.4% year on year and by 8.1% month on month.
February mortgage sales exceeded PLN 10.6 billion, making it one of the strongest results in the history of this segment. At the same time, the average value of a single mortgage continued to rise, reaching PLN 454,050, or 8.6% more than a year earlier.
“The healthy market conditions in mortgage lending are reflected in February sales of more than PLN 10.6 billion. This is one of the highest results in history. The average value of a newly granted mortgage reached PLN 454,050. The main reason for such high activity in this segment is growing creditworthiness, driven by interest rate cuts and still-rising real incomes. Refinancing of previously taken out mortgages, most of them on temporarily fixed interest rates, is also accelerating. Around 80% of current lending activity consists of loans for purchasing property on the primary and secondary markets. The remaining 20% is refinancing of previously granted mortgages,” explained Waldemar Rogowski.
The data therefore shows that improved financial conditions and higher creditworthiness continue to support demand for property purchase financing. Refinancing of existing debt also remains an important part of the market.
Repayment quality remains stable, but credit cards raise more concern
Overall, the quality of the loan portfolio remains generally stable. In February, on a month-on-month basis, readings improved for two Quality Indices: credit cards and mortgages. By contrast, the reading for cash loans deteriorated, while the quality index for instalment loans remained unchanged.
On a year-on-year basis, however, there is still some deterioration visible in the quality of the instalment and cash loan segments, although the level of risk remains safe. The situation in the credit card market is beginning to attract more attention.
“The BIK Quality Indices for two lending products—instalment loans and cash loans—have deteriorated over the past 12 months, but they still remain at a safe level, meaning low and acceptable credit risk. What may start to be worrying is the increase in the loss ratio on credit cards, which is 0.22 percentage points higher than the value of the index a year ago,” explained Waldemar Rogowski.
The credit market entered 2026 with a clear growth impulse
The February data shows that the start of 2026 brought a strong rebound above all in mortgages and instalment loans, while the cash loan market continued to grow at a moderate pace. At the centre of these changes is the improving creditworthiness of households, supported by lower interest rates and real income growth.
At the same time, the market is not without risks. In addition to weaker results in the credit card segment, consumer behaviour in the coming months may also be influenced by macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, including growing uncertainty linked to the situation in the Middle East. For now, however, the February figures indicate that lending activity remains on a growth path, and that banks and credit unions have started the year significantly better than they did a year earlier.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/luty-przyniosl-mocne-odbicie-akcji-kredytowej-zwlaszcza-w-hipotekach-14285
