The new Consumer Credit Act will bring key changes and new obligations for institutions

An article titled “The new Consumer Credit Act will bring key changes and new obligations for institutions” has been published on wnp.pl, featuring commentary from Izabela Sowała-Wysocka, Audit Senior Assistant at PKF.

The draft of the new Consumer Credit Act (dated 4 July 2025, legislative register: UC82) proposes, among other things, the removal of the PLN 255,550 cap, new advertising standards, stricter rules for assessing creditworthiness, and an expanded “free credit” sanction regime. For banks and lending companies, this means additional disclosure obligations and significant sanction risks. The draft has already undergone public consultation, and industry consultation conferences began in January 2026.

Key changes at a glance

• removal of the PLN 255,550 cap and an expanded scope of “consumer credit” to cover additional products (e.g., selected lease/rental-with-purchase options, current-account credit limits/overdrafts, interest-free products),
• new advertising standards (greater emphasis on avoiding misleading messages and stronger information requirements),
• additional disclosure obligations, including for deferred payments and changes to repayment arrangements,
• more robust creditworthiness assessments (including limits on permissible data sources),
• an expanded “free credit” sanction — more tiered and dependent on the type of breach,
• clarification of non-interest costs and extension of the minimum period for which an offer is binding.

“The draft Act is a necessary step in harmonising national law with EU regulations. The new rules mean stronger consumer protection, but also additional obligations for financial institutions — and failure to comply may result in sanctions,” emphasises Izabela Sowała-Wysocka, PKF Polska, Audit Senior Assistant.

We invite you to read the full article.