Poland’s non-bank loan market continued to record strong year-on-year growth in April 2026, despite a slight slowdown after the spring rebound. According to the latest data from the Association of Financial Companies in Poland (ZPF) and CRIF, the value of loans granted declined month on month but remained significantly higher than a year earlier. At the same time, the sector remains highly selective in its risk assessment, with as many as 80% of applications rejected in April.
The report, “Condition of the Loan Market in Poland”, prepared by ZPF and CRIF, covers around 90% of the non-bank lending market. The data show that demand for financing remains high, but lending institutions continue to focus mainly on existing, verified customers who are considered less risky.
Loans Worth More Than PLN 2 Billion Granted in April
The value of loans granted in April 2026 reached PLN 2.03 billion. This was 4.4% lower than in March, but 22.9% higher than in April 2025. This means that, despite the monthly decline, the market continued to post solid annual growth.
A similar trend was visible in the number of loans disbursed. In April, non-bank institutions granted 433,540 loans. This represented a 3.6% decrease compared with March, but a 12.1% increase year on year.
According to Jolanta Pytel, CRIF expert responsible for cooperation with the lending, fintech and e-commerce sectors, the latest data do not yet indicate a change in trend. She noted that the spring recovery seen in previous months had slowed somewhat, but the observation period is still too short to draw far-reaching conclusions.
Average Loan Value Reached PLN 4,675
According to ZPF and CRIF, the average value of a non-bank loan granted in April 2026 was PLN 4,675. This was 0.8% lower than in the previous month, but 9.6% higher than a year earlier.
The increase in the average loan amount remains above the rate of inflation. As Agnieszka Kozioł, Director of the Research and Analysis Department at ZPF, pointed out, consumer price inflation in April 2026 stood at 3.2% year on year, while the average gross monthly wage in the enterprise sector rose by 6.6% year on year in March. Against this backdrop, the average loan amount is growing relatively quickly.
This may suggest that consumers using non-bank financing now need higher loan amounts than a year ago. At the same time, this does not automatically translate into greater availability of loans, as companies continue to apply strict criteria when assessing customers’ creditworthiness and reliability.
Lenders Focus on Lower-Risk Customers
One of the key findings of the report is the very high share of rejected applications. In April 2026, lending institutions refused financing in 80% of cases. This means that only one in five applications resulted in a positive decision.
The share of new customers stood at just 8.6%. This shows that the sector is largely based on borrowers already known to lenders, whose risk profile can be assessed more easily. New customers face significantly more limited access to financing, especially if their credit history, income or other data raise concerns.
According to CRIF experts, the market’s selectiveness is part of a responsible approach to lending. Jolanta Pytel emphasized that, despite strong demand, most applications end in rejection because companies consistently focus on less risky borrowers. This trend is also confirmed by the decline in the value of overdue debt, which has continued for several months.
Fewer Bad Debts, but Greater Risk of Financial Exclusion
The cautious policy of lending institutions may have a positive impact on portfolio quality and reduce the risk of excessive consumer indebtedness. From the sector’s perspective, this supports more stable development and lowers the risk of a build-up in unpaid liabilities.
On the other hand, such a high rejection rate raises questions about access to legal financing for some consumers. According to ZPF and CRIF, over the past 12 months almost 500,000 people did not receive the financing they applied for.
Experts point out that this scale requires ongoing monitoring. If people rejected by legally operating institutions are unable to find safe alternative sources of financing, some of them may turn to the unregulated market. This could increase the risk of growth in the grey economy and the use of less transparent, potentially more expensive forms of financing.
Regulations May Affect Access to Financing
ZPF and CRIF indicate that the issue of access to financing should also be analysed in the context of ongoing work on a new Consumer Credit Act. According to representatives of the sector, the currently proposed solutions may further limit access to legal loans for some consumers.
Jolanta Pytel stressed that the scale of rejected applications is large enough to deserve attention in the regulatory debate. In her view, overly restrictive rules could deepen financial exclusion, especially among people who do not have access to bank credit but still need short-term, legal financing.
A Strong but Highly Cautious Market
April’s data show a market that is still growing year on year, but remains highly cautious. The decline in both the value and number of loans compared with March may indicate a temporary slowdown after the earlier rebound, but it does not undermine the positive annual growth trend.
The most important signal, however, is the sector’s selectiveness. The rejection of 80% of applications shows that non-bank lenders are not pursuing growth at any cost, but are focused on managing risk. For the market, this may mean greater stability. For some consumers, however, it may mean more difficult access to legal financing.
