Biznes Fakty
BIK. Revival in cash and mortgage loans. „Value unseen since 2021”
In April 2025, banks and credit unions (SKOK) issued a greater number of cash and housing loans compared to the previous year, both in terms of quantity and value, as reported by the Credit Information Bureau on Monday. However, a „significant slowdown” was observed in the installment loan sector.
Based on BIK statistics, financial institutions provided more of two loan types in numerical terms in April this year: cash loans (+21.6%) and housing loans (+11.6%). Conversely, there was a decline in installment loans (-26.6%) and credit cards (-5.5%).
„In terms of value, cash loans saw an increase (+25.1 percent), housing loans rose (+17.7 percent), and credit cards experienced a slight uptick (+0.9 percent). Installment loans, however, showed a negative trend in granted value (-8.8 percent),” the Credit Information Bureau stated in a report on Monday.
The report highlighted that from January to April 2025, when compared with the same timeframe in 2024, banks and credit unions increased their issuance of cash loans (+25.1%). The other three credit products experienced negative trends: installment loans (-28.6%), housing loans (-17.3%), and credit cards (-6.2%). The rise in credit activity was primarily seen in cash loans (+35.6%) and credit card limits granted (+3.8%). Meanwhile, declines were noted in housing loans (-14.9%) and installment loans (-11.5%).
The report’s authors emphasized the „significant slowdown” in installment loans, the ongoing positive trend in cash loans, and the recovery in housing loans.
Dr. hab. Waldemar Rogowski, the chief analyst of the BIK Group, stated that the improvement in the installment loan market could be affected by the rise in retail sales. However, for this to materialize, it is essential to lower the level of uncertainty (both political and economic), which would motivate Poles to consume more.
Interest in mortgages is on the rise
Regarding cash loans, Rogowski noted that borrowers are opting for increasingly larger amounts, with the primary driver of sales growth in this segment being high-value loans exceeding PLN 50,000. He pointed out that this trend is a result of customers consolidating their loans.
„The first four months of this year for cash loans should be viewed as highly successful, particularly in terms of the total value of loans granted – PLN 38.26 billion,” Rogowski remarked. The average amount of a cash loan issued in April this year was PLN 26,864, representing an increase of 2.9 percent compared to April 2024.
The BIK analyst observed that the sale of mortgage loans appeared very robust in April this year. „Despite the absence of any support program and the still high interest rates on newly issued housing loans, the total credit activity in April this year reached PLN 8.13 billion. This figure hasn’t been seen since 2021, excluding the period from October 2023 to March 2024, which was associated with the Safe Credit 2% program,” he emphasized.
In April this year, another record was achieved for the average amount of a loan granted – PLN 436.87 thousand, indicating an increase of 5.5 percent compared to April last year.
