Full definition
Statutory maximum interest is the upper limit on contractual interest under Polish law. Per Civil Code art. 359 §2¹ it equals twice the statutory interest rate, and the statutory rate is the NBP reference rate plus 3.5 p.p. At the current reference rate of 3.75% (since 5 March 2026) the statutory rate is 7.25% and the maximum is 14.5% per year. A separate cap applies to default interest (art. 481 §2¹): twice the statutory default rate, i.e. 2 x (reference rate + 5.5 p.p.) = 18.5% per year. Clauses exceeding the caps are ineffective: only the maximum is due, and consumers can reclaim overpayments.
Formula
Max interest = 2 x (NBP reference rate + 3.5 p.p.) = 2 x 7.25% = 14.5%.
Concrete numeric example
A 10,000 PLN loan over 12 months: capital interest cannot exceed 14.5%, i.e. 1,450 PLN per year. If the contract says 18% (1,800 PLN), the clause is ineffective above the cap: only the maximum is due and the overpayment can be reclaimed.
