Polish credit landscape changes as card numbers drop, borrowing motives shift

The number of credit cards held by Polish consumers fell to 5,079,251 at the end of December 2025, a decline of about 338,000 compared with the third quarter of 2020. In 2025 banks issued 610,100 new cards, 2.8 % fewer than the previous year, yet the total credit limits attached to cards rose from 4.319 billion PLN to 6.548 billion PLN, averaging an annual increase of 0.67 billion PLN.

A new report on borrowing motives found that 28 % of Poles would consider taking a loan to improve their self‑esteem, 19 % to express identity, 18 % to showcase success, and 17 % to fit in with peers or work environments. Respondents indicated they might borrow amounts equivalent to 40‑42 months of net salary (around 230‑240 k PLN), with lower amounts for self‑esteem‑related borrowing (about 149 k PLN). The findings suggest credit cards are becoming a tool for a narrower, more financially aware segment of consumers, while social and psychological factors increasingly drive loan decisions.