Evolution of Cooperative Banking Sector in Poland and Financing Local Development

Abstract

The aim of the study presented in this paper was to assess the operations of cooperative banks in Poland in terms of financing local economic development. The assumption was that the fundamental operation which has an effect on economic growth consists in granting loans to local communities. According to the results of research, in the last 3 years the most significant increase in the banks’ receivables from non-financial sector was recorded among natural persons. Yet cooperative banks are still primarily interested in financing business (roughly 75% of the receivables from non-financial sector in 2016 were business loans). Nonetheless, over the last several years the profits of cooperative banks have been decreasing thereby limiting their ability to increase equity through accumulation of profit. EWOLUCJA SEKTORA BANKÓW SPÓŁDZIELCZYCH W POLSCE A FINANSOWANIE ROZWOJU LOKALNEGO