PKO BP lender expects stronger recovery in corporate and consumer loans in H2 2025 (interview)

"The recovery is visible in all market segments, and customers appreciate our offer. In annual terms, we have significantly increased credit financing for enterprises, and in the retail segment, we have recorded double-digit portfolio growth," deputy CEO Dresler told PAP Biznes.

"In the second quarter, demand for mortgage loans grew the strongest – by almost half compared to last year and by over 20 percent quarter on quarter," he added.

Dresler said that in the second half of the year, PKO BP expects stable growth in this segment and a greater revival in the corporate and consumer areas.

He announced that as part of a new 5-year savings product introduced in April, the bank had accumulated approximately PLN 500 million (EUR 117.3 mln).

"We introduced it in April this year, and since July we have been offering higher interest rates to reward regular deposits, making it the best-interest product on the market today. Thanks to this offer, we are supporting long-term savings among nearly 38,000 customers who have so far decided to deposit approximately PLN 0.5 billion," said Dresler.

"This level of interest is only slightly lower than our initial assumptions. It is a good product, which on the one hand meets market expectations, and on the other hand fulfils regulatory requirements aimed at better aligning the balance sheet structure and strengthening the position of banks in the area of long-term loan financing," he added.

Lender's deputy CEO pointed out that according to the recently completed EBA stress tests, PKO BP is one of the most resilient banks in Europe.

"We have a healthy loan portfolio with a low share of non-performing loans. The CoR ratio has consistently remained at 0.33 basis points since last year, which is more than twice lower than the level assumed in the strategy," Dresler said.

The bank announced on Wednesday that financing for customers at the end of June 2025 amounted to PLN 307.4 billion (EUR 72.1 bln), up by 10.3 percent year on year.

Financing in the corporate segment increased by 8.7 percent compared to mid-2024, with a significant portion coming from support for listed renewables group Polenergia in the construction of the MFW Baltyk II and III wind farms and the issuance of Eurobonds linked to the sustainable development of the CEZ Group.

PKO BP reported that the 11.2-percent growth in the retail loan segment resulted in a further strengthening of its market share, with the improved results supported by strong growth in new mortgage and consumer loans in the second quarter.

The value of new loans granted to customers in these segments increased by almost half year on year to PLN 7 billion (EUR 1.64 bln) in the case of housing loans and PLN 8.1 billion (EUR 1.9 bln) in consumer loans.

PKO BP remains the largest mortgage lender in Poland, with a nearly 30 percent share in new loan sales and over 26 percent market share in active loans.

seb/ ao/ nl/