Mortgage adviser in Poland – is it worth it, what does it cost and who pays the broker

You can arrange a mortgage on your own at a bank, or with the help of a specialist who will compare the offers of several banks and guide you through the formalities. We explain what a so-called credit adviser does, how a broker differs from an adviser within the meaning of the Act, how to check them in the KNF (Polish Financial Supervision Authority) register and who pays for their work.

Key points

• Only entities entered in the register of credit intermediaries kept by the KNF may act as mortgage intermediaries.
• Before starting cooperation the intermediary must give you, among other things, their register entry number, information on how many banks they work with, the commission they receive from the bank and the fees you pay (art. 17 of the Mortgage Credit Act).
• The intermediary usually receives remuneration from the bank, so for the client their help is often free of charge – but the Act does not forbid charging the client fees if they have been disclosed.
• The title "independent adviser" may be used only by an intermediary who is not tied to banks and does not receive remuneration from them (art. 25 sec. 3).
• At TM Invest a credit expert helps with the loan: they compare the offers of several banks and guide you through the process from application to loan agreement.

A credit adviser – what do they do?

In everyday language a "credit adviser" is a person who helps you obtain a mortgage. In practice they usually:

• assess your creditworthiness and indicate the budget in which to look for a flat,
• compare the offers of several banks – margin, commission, insurance, APRC (RRSO) and additional conditions,
• suggest how to increase your borrowing capacity and which documents to prepare,
• help submit applications to several banks on the basis of one set of documents,
• watch the deadlines: validity of the information form, of the credit decision and of the reservation agreement with the developer,
• explain the provisions of the loan agreement and the conditions for paying out tranches for a flat under construction.

The credit decision is always made by the bank – no intermediary can guarantee it.

Credit intermediary versus adviser – what is the difference?

The Mortgage Credit Act uses precise concepts:

• mortgage credit intermediary – a business that, for remuneration, presents loan offers, helps prepare the agreement or concludes it on behalf of the bank,
• tied intermediary – acts for one bank, one group or fewer than half of the lenders on the market,
• agent – acts on behalf of one intermediary,
• advisory services – presenting recommendations to the consumer concerning at least one loan agreement, as a service separate from granting credit and from intermediation.

The Act also reserves certain names. Banks, tied intermediaries and their agents may not use the terms "adviser" or "advice" in their name or advertising (art. 25 sec. 2). The term "independent adviser" belongs only to an intermediary who is not tied and does not receive commission or other remuneration from lenders (art. 25 sec. 3). When providing advisory services they must present at least three offers and a recommendation in the client's best interest, on a durable medium.

How to check a credit adviser?

1. Ask for the register entry number and check it in the KNF register of credit intermediaries.
2. Check whether you received in writing or as a PDF the information under art. 17: whether the intermediary is tied, which banks they work with, whether they provide advisory services, what commission they receive from the bank and what fees you pay.
3. Ask how many banks they will actually compare in your case.
4. Beware of promises of "a loan for sure" – the credit decision is always made by the bank.

How much does a credit adviser cost?

Most often a credit intermediary receives a commission from the bank with which the client signs the agreement. This commission must be disclosed to the client, and if its amount is not yet known – given in the information form. The Act does not forbid charging fees to the client as well, but they must be disclosed before cooperation starts and included in the APRC (RRSO). An independent adviser lives solely on fees from the client.

So before you start cooperating, ask directly: how much will I pay and for what?

How do we help with a loan at TM Invest?

TM Invest helps buyers find a flat from a developer in Warsaw and Wroclaw and bring the purchase to completion – including on the financing side. Our credit expert will check your borrowing capacity, compare the offers of several banks, help prepare the application and align the tranche schedule with the schedule of the developer agreement (umowa deweloperska).

Thanks to this you have the loan and the flat in one place – before you sign the reservation you already know what loan amount you can count on.

When is it worth using help?

• you are buying your first flat and do not know the procedure,
• you have non-standard income – a business, a contract for a specific task, income from abroad,
• you are buying a flat under construction and the loan is to be paid out in tranches,
• you want to compare several banks and have no time to visit each one separately,
• you are short of time because the reservation agreement with the developer is expiring.

If you have a standard income, a high down payment and a good relationship with your own bank, you can manage on your own – but it is worth comparing at least a few offers.

Read also:

• Which bank for a mortgage – how to compare offers

Frequently asked questions

Summary

A good credit intermediary saves time, helps compare banks and watches deadlines, but cannot replace the bank's decision. Before cooperating, check them in the KNF register and ask for information on their remuneration. We describe the whole process in the guide Mortgage step by step, and what amount you can count on – in the article Borrowing capacity 2026.

Buying a flat from a developer in Warsaw or Wroclaw? Book a consultation with a credit expert – we will compare the offers of several banks and help you through the process from application to agreement.

Legal position as at September 2026. The article is for information only. The decision on granting a loan and its terms is made by the bank.

Sources

• Act on Mortgage Credit and on Supervision of Mortgage Credit Intermediaries and Agents – consolidated text Dz.U. 2025 item 720 (art. 4, 10, 17, 19, 25–28, 48, 57, 62).
• KNF – register of credit intermediaries.