UniCredit has re-entered Poland’s corporate lending market with a €350 million facility for a major industrial client, signaling a strategic shift that unsettles local banks. The move marks a significant return after a two-year hiatus and intensifies competition in Central Europe’s banking sector.
- UniCredit secured a €350 million corporate loan in Poland in January 2026.
- The loan was granted to a manufacturing firm in Wrocław, marking the bank’s first major corporate deal in the country since 2024.
- UniCredit offered rates 120 basis points below comparable offers from local banks.
- Polish lenders PKO BP and mBank have responded with new financing programs and digital platforms.
- UniCredit’s Polish corporate loan portfolio rose 28% in Q1 2026.
- Market analysts anticipate increased competition and potential consolidation in the region’s banking sector.
UniCredit has launched a renewed corporate lending initiative in Poland, securing a €350 million credit facility for a leading manufacturing firm based in Wrocław. This marks the bank’s first major corporate loan in the country since 2024, following a strategic withdrawal amid tightening credit conditions and regulatory scrutiny. The facility is structured as a five-year term loan with competitive pricing, undercutting rates offered by peer institutions by up to 120 basis points. The re-entry signals a broader recalibration of UniCredit’s Central European strategy, as the bank seeks to reclaim market share in high-margin corporate segments. Polish lenders, including PKO BP and mBank, have faced increased pressure as UniCredit leverages its pan-European infrastructure and lower funding costs to offer more favorable terms. In the first quarter of 2026, UniCredit’s Polish corporate loan portfolio grew by 28% month-over-month, while local peers reported flat or declining volumes in the same period. The shift has prompted a competitive response: PKO BP announced a new SME financing program with reduced spreads, while mBank introduced a digital lending platform targeting mid-sized industrial clients. Market analysts note that UniCredit’s return could accelerate consolidation, particularly among regional banks unable to match its scale or cost of capital. The broader impact is expected to influence credit availability and interest rate dynamics across Central and Eastern Europe.