Banks begin to demand the same rights and benefits found in the EU

The Polish Banks Association (ZBP) program for 2003-2006, which is likely to be approved on Tuesday, has included activities that would foster economic growth. According to ZBP president Krzysztof Pietraszkiewicz, banks would more eagerly grant loans if some of the excessive burden was taken from them. Banks are hoping for tax law changes which would allow them to include as costs those reserves that are created due to bad debts. They also hope to reach an agreement with the fiscal office about reserves that were created for lost debts which are often ten years overdue. ZBP proposes to use part of the money received from these reserves to create a system of loan guarantees for SME's. "We do not expect extraordinary solutions, but only to be allowed to use those already found in the EU," said Pietraszkiewicz. (Rzeczpospolita, 5-6 April, p. B5) M.M.