Polish banks see drop in corporate debit cards and profit outlook for 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, Polish banks reported a 1.1% quarterly decline in corporate debit cards, falling from over 2.1 million cards reported in March. BNP Paribas experienced the sharpest fall, losing 28.1% of its cards to 138 thousand, while Erste, ING and Millenium saw modest increases.

National banking figures released by the Polish Central Bank show total net operating revenue of 58.15 billion zł in the first five months of 2026, up only 0.1% year‑on‑year. Interest income dropped 10% and interest expenses fell 22.1%, while fee income rose 5.9% and related costs grew 6%. Administrative costs rose 8% to 25.15 billion zł, driven by a 7.2% rise in personnel expenses. The Polish Bank Association (ZBP) now projects net profit for 2026 could fall around 23%, estimating 37‑38 billion zł versus 49 billion zł in 2025, with ROE expected to dip to about 13% from 18%.

These trends highlight a tightening profitability outlook for Poland’s banking sector amid decreasing card usage and shifting cost structures.