How banks calculate your creditworthiness (zdolność kredytowa)
Why two people with the same salary can get very different loan amounts – DSTI, living costs and the interest rate buffer explained.
Kready · 2026-09-17
Creditworthiness is the maximum loan a bank will give you. It depends on more than your salary.
1. The DSTI limit
Banks follow the Polish regulator's (KNF) Recommendation S. Your total loan installments can take up to about 40% of net income for lower incomes and 50% for higher incomes.
2. Living costs
The bank subtracts estimated living costs for every person in your household. A family of four has less capacity than a single person with the same income.
3. Other obligations
Every existing installment reduces your capacity – and so do credit card and overdraft limits, even unused ones. Banks typically count a few percent of the limit as a monthly cost.
4. The interest rate buffer
For variable-rate loans, banks test whether you could pay at a rate about 2.5 percentage points higher. For loans with a rate fixed for at least 5 years this buffer is usually not applied – which is why fixed-rate offers often give you a higher maximum loan.
5. Loan term
A longer term means a lower installment, so a higher loan fits within the same DSTI limit.
How to increase your capacity
- close unused credit cards,
- add a co-borrower with income,
- choose a longer term or a fixed rate,
- repay small consumer loans before applying.
The calculator shows your estimated maximum loan live as you answer the income questions.