Polish regulator probes mortgage scoring practices at major banks

The regulator suspects that BIK’s scoring model, which is co-owned by a consortium of lenders including the searched banks, may be artificially lowering consumer credit ratings. UOKiK officials argue that the current methodology punishes individuals who inquire about multiple mortgage options, a practice that discourages rate-shopping and limits market transparency. If the agency confirms these anti-competitive practices, the involved institutions could face antitrust charges and fines reaching 10% of their annual turnover.

Representatives for ING and BIK stated they are cooperating fully with the probe, with BIK noting that it implemented scoring updates on July 1. Conversely, mBank dismissed the allegations as baseless and has moved to appeal the search order, maintaining that its internal processes remain compliant. The investigation marks a significant escalation in regulatory oversight, targeting the industry-wide infrastructure of credit reporting rather than the conduct of a single institution.