Banking Sector in Poland – Situation in 2014 and Challenges for the Future (Sektor bankowy w Polsce – sytuacja w 2014 roku i wyzwania na przyszłość)

The banking sector's financial performance in 2014 was very good, but the perspectives for the years to come do not seem to be fortunate. Although the economy of Poland should further develop at a fair rate, what is favourable for banks' clients, therefore also for the banking sector, but there have appeared new challenges. Banks will operate under the terms of low interest rates, uncertain situation in the international financial markets, caused by the slowdown of economic growth in the main economies of the world and Europe, and particularly in China and among the most important trade partners of Poland. A substantial element of the risk for the banking sector will undoubtedly be the political situation in the country and related to it anxieties of the introduction of tax imposed on banks, the unfavourable for banks resolution of the problem of foreign currency credits as well as insolvency of SKOKs (savings and credit cooperatives, or credit unions). The general conclusion of the study: the banking sector remains robust and safe and, despite threats, has opportunities to still develop in the years to come. We have in Poland one of the safest banking systems, not requiring support at the part of the state, or taxpayers