Polish minister calls for tax on bank profits to fund defense and social programs

Poland’s Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, has proposed a windfall tax on excessive bank profits to help finance national defense and key social initiatives.

Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz

Polskie Radio

In an interview with Puls Biznesu, Pełczyńska-Nałęcz pointed out that Polish banks are making record profits by charging high interest rates on loans while offering low returns on savings, deepening financial inequality.

“Banks in Poland are currently making extraordinary profits, and there is such a thing as a windfall tax. It can be introduced for a year and extended if necessary. The Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain have implemented similar measures, and Poland should do the same in the current geopolitical situation,” she said.

Zdaniem Katarzyny Pełczyńskiej-Nałęcz, minister funduszy i polityki regionalnej, Polska powinna opodatkować nadmiarowe zyski banków, a uzyskane środki przeznaczyć na wzmocnienie obronności.https://t.co/9qPjc82iun

— Puls Biznesu (@puls_biznesu) March 21, 2025

Minister Pełczyńska-Nałęcz believes the revenue from this tax could support defense spending or essential public services like healthcare.

Podatek od manny z nieba - TAK. I przekierować na konkretne cele: np. bezpieczeństwo, ochrona zdrowia.

Banki zarabiają nie tylko z powodu wysokich stóp procentowych. Zarabiają także na nadmiernym oprocentowaniu kredytów i zaniżonym (poniżej inflacji) oprocentowaniu oszczędności.… https://t.co/mDcjmStGu5

— Katarzyna Pełczyńska (@Kpelczynska) March 23, 2025

Speaking with journalist Renata Grochal on Program III of Polish Radio, she acknowledged likely resistance from the banking sector but stressed that determined policymaking could make such a tax a reality, as was the case with the recent law on real estate price transparency.

(m p)

Source: IAR/PR3/pb.pl/X/@puls_biznesu/@Kpelczynska/YouTube.com/PolskieRadio24_pl