Banking services expand, but banks still remain unpopular

According to the latest research from Pentor, the opinion pollster, only 54% of the public use a personal bank account, a figure up 3% over the last year. Of the 46% who do not have a bank account only 8% intend to eventually open one.

"Regretfully, the rate of popularity of using banking services is still not satisfying. One of the main reasons for this is that banks place too little stress on economic and financial education," said Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz, president of the Polish Banks Association (ZBP).

Market analysts do not expect a breakthrough, and according to Piotr Siciak, manager at Deloitte, growth in the number of persons using bank accounts will be small and mainly related to youth entering the labor market as well as students.

However, there is some good news, "The group of clients using consumer finance products will be grow much faster. Last year the increase in the value of cash loans stood at 50% and there are chances of maintaining this level this year despite the effect of high base rates. [...] There is still room to develop banking services," said Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1; 17-18 May) M.M.