BNP Paribas BP Profit Drops Sharply, Yet Beats Expectations Amid Regulatory Headwinds

BNP Paribas Bank Polska navigated a challenging first quarter of 2026, reporting a net profit of PLN 375 million. While this figure represents a significant decrease of nearly 50% compared to the previous year, it notably surpassed market analysts' expectations, who had predicted around PLN 305 million. This resilience in the face of headwinds is a key takeaway for the Polish market.

The bank's leadership, particularly CEO Przemysław Gdański, attributed the profit dip primarily to a tougher regulatory environment. The sector-wide increase in CIT tax from 19% to 30% alone added over PLN 50 million in costs, while a substantial BFG contribution of PLN 239 million also impacted the bottom line. These external factors underscore the significant influence of government policy on the banking sector's profitability in Poland.

“

Competition in the market is fierce, but we want to participate in it with enthusiasm. Despite the difficult environment, I look to the future with some optimism.

Despite these pressures, BNP Paribas BP demonstrated operational strength, buoyed by its 'Accelerate 2030' strategy. The bank successfully reversed a trend of customer base reduction, welcoming 55,000 new retail clients in the quarter, bringing its total to 2.7 million. Loan activity also surged, with gross loans increasing by 6.3% year-on-year, largely fueled by strong performance in the institutional and consumer credit segments. While the mortgage market saw a modest increase, the bank plans to introduce variable-rate mortgage offers soon to capture more market share, signaling an optimistic outlook despite the current complexities.

“

We didn't have such an offer in Q1, but we are launching it in the coming days. We believe it will allow us to return to expected sales growth.