In short
Statutory interest for late payment in Poland is the NBP reference rate plus 5.5 percentage points, today 9.25% a year. The maximum interest for delay is twice that: 18.50%. A 3,000 zł instalment paid 30 days late means about 22.81 zł of statutory interest.
Interest rates set by the Polish Civil Code
| Type of interest | Formula | Today a year | Civil Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory (capital) | NBP rate + 3.5 pp | 7.25% | art. 359 § 2 |
| Maximum (capital) | 2 × statutory | 14.50% | art. 359 § 2¹ |
| Statutory for delay | NBP rate + 5.5 pp | 9.25% | art. 481 § 2 |
| Maximum for delay | 2 × for delay | 18.50% | art. 481 § 2¹ |
NBP reference rate 3.75% since 5 March 2026. Late payments between businesses follow a separate act with a different rate.
How much a late instalment costs
| Amount overdue | Days late | Statutory interest | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 zł | 30 | 22.81 zł | 45.62 zł |
| 3,000 zł | 90 | 68.42 zł | 136.85 zł |
| 10,000 zł | 30 | 76.03 zł | 152.05 zł |
| 10,000 zł | 180 | 456.16 zł | 912.33 zł |
At today's rate of 9.25% a year, a year counted as 365 days, from the day after the due date to the day of payment.
What your bank charges
A Polish bank charges interest for delay under your loan agreement, usually a higher rate on the overdue capital, and it may not exceed the maximum interest for delay. It may also add a reminder fee from its table of fees. Each late instalment is reported to BIK, the Polish credit bureau, and repeated delays make the next loan harder to get.
When you cannot pay
- Call your bank before the due date. Banks offer deferral of instalments, a longer loan term and restructuring.
- Check the Borrower Support Fund. After losing a job, or when the instalment is a large part of income, you can apply to the state Fundusz Wsparcia Kredytobiorców, run by BGK, to cover part of the instalments.
- Mind weekends. If a deadline ends on a Saturday or a public holiday, it moves to the next working day (art. 115 of the Civil Code). Your agreement may set its own rules, and transfers between banks often do not arrive at weekends, so pay a day earlier.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statutory interest for late payment in Poland?
Since 5 March 2026: 9.25% a year, the NBP reference rate of 3.75% plus 5.5 percentage points (art. 481 § 2 of the Civil Code). It changes with the reference rate after decisions of the Monetary Policy Council.
What is the maximum interest a Polish bank can charge for delay?
Twice the statutory interest for delay, today 18.50% a year (art. 481 § 2¹ of the Civil Code). A higher rate in an agreement is not allowed.
How much will I pay for a mortgage instalment one month late?
For a 3,000 zł instalment 30 days late, statutory interest is about 22.81 zł and the maximum about 45.62 zł. Your bank calculates the exact amount under your agreement.
Sources
- Civil Code, art. 359 and 481 (ISAP, Polish Sejm)
- KredytPolska: late payment interest calculator (Polish)
This guide describes general rules and typical bank practice as of October 2026. Details
It is not legal or tax advice and not a bank offer. Each bank sets its own criteria, and the lending decision is always made by the bank.
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