New survey and registry data from BIG InfoMonitor and BIK provide a nuanced picture of men’s financial behavior in Poland, showing that most manage day-to-day expenses without tapping into savings, even as a significant share of overdue household debt remains concentrated among men.

According to a survey commissioned by BIG InfoMonitor, 72 percent of male respondents said they do not need to use their financial reserves to meet regular expenses. Only 28 percent reported drawing on savings, suggesting that most men manage their household budgets from current income. When savings are used, they are typically spent on necessities: groceries (34 percent), utility bills (32 percent), medical services (31 percent), and medicines (26 percent). Less frequently, savings are directed to discretionary spending such as hobbies (14 percent), entertainment (13 percent), or pets (9 percent).

BIG InfoMonitor’s analysts note that men appear less likely than women to dip into savings for daily needs, though comparative figures for women were not disclosed in the current release. “Statistically, men in Poland still more often occupy higher-paid positions and earn more in the same roles, which may translate into greater liquidity and less frequent use of reserves,” said Dr. Waldemar Rogowski, chief analyst at BIG InfoMonitor, citing national pay gap data from Statistics Poland (GUS) and Eurostat.

The data also highlight debt pressures. As of the end of July, more than 1.5 million men in Poland had overdue liabilities totaling nearly PLN 60 billion, representing around 70 percent of the country’s total arrears held by individuals. While the number of male debtors has fallen by over 110,000 in the past three years, the value of outstanding debt has risen by nearly PLN 3 billion. On average, male debtors now carry around PLN 38,000 each, up over PLN 4,000 compared with July 2023.

Experts caution that this indicates a concentration of financial stress among a smaller group of men with higher arrears. “Gentlemen are balancing between common sense and risk,” said Paweł Szarkowski, president of BIG InfoMonitor. “The number of men with overdue payments has gone down, but the scale of obligations among those who remain in debt is increasing.”

BIG InfoMonitor’s survey also found that roughly one in five men report using savings to repay loans or other liabilities. Analysts suggest this may reflect a more cautious approach to debt management, with men turning to personal reserves rather than taking on new borrowing.

Taken together, the findings underline a mixed picture. Many men appear able to cover everyday costs from income and maintain liquidity, but a significant share continues to struggle with arrears, highlighting the ongoing tension between financial prudence and exposure to risk.

Source: BIG InfoMonitor and BIK

Poland’s non-bank lending sector recorded strong gains in August, with both short-term and longer-term cash loans, as well as installment loans, rising in number and value compared with the same month last year.

According to data from the Credit Information Bureau (BIK), the largest increases were seen in short-term cash loans, which are typically repaid within two months. These reached a value of just over PLN 1.15 billion in August, nearly 21 percent higher than a year earlier. Around 464,000 such loans were issued during the month, up by more than 7 percent year-on-year. The average loan size also increased, climbing to about PLN 2,700.

Loans with maturities longer than two months also advanced, with more than 74,000 granted in August, worth roughly PLN 441 million. Both the number and value of these loans grew compared with last year, while the average size rose to just over PLN 6,000.

The installment loan segment also showed strong momentum, with almost 873,000 loans granted during the month. Their total value came to PLN 582 million, reflecting a rise of more than 15 percent. However, the average installment loan size dropped by nearly 10 percent, to about PLN 670, suggesting that many borrowers are opting for smaller amounts even as overall demand rises.

Cumulative figures for the first eight months of the year highlight the strength of the sector. More than 3.6 million short-term cash loans were issued between January and August, up nearly 15 percent on the year, with the value growing by close to 29 percent. Longer-term cash loans and installment loans also recorded double-digit growth in both number and value.

Analysts note that while the market is expanding, the fall in average installment loan amounts and reports of high rejection rates across the industry suggest lenders are exercising caution. For now, though, the data confirms that Poland’s non-bank loan sector continues to grow rapidly, driven by both household financing needs and wider consumer spending trends.