Almost half of Poles declare that they are saving with retirement in mind – according to the latest study by ING Bank Śląski. In 2022, it was only one third of respondents. Although Poles are still afraid of health and financial problems after the end of their professional career, the level of anxiety related to the retirement period has clearly decreased compared to the previous editions of the study.
In this year's edition of the ING Bank Śląski survey on pensions, as many as a quarter fewer respondents indicated that they were afraid of retirement (33% currently compared to 42% in the 2022 edition).
– This means we are taking matters into our own hands. Already 47 percent respondents declare that they save with the future in mind, especially with retirement in mind. We no longer treat retirement as something to be afraid of, but as something for which we can and must prepare, says Daniel Szewieczek, bank director responsible for the savings area at ING Bank Śląski, to the Newseria Biznes agency.
The reason that we are less afraid of retirement may be the fact that we save more and are more willing to use available individual pension products. 47 percent Poles declare that they save money with retirement in mind. Three years ago it was 34 percent, and last year – 39 percent. respondents.
– Most often, we save amounts ranging from PLN 100 to PLN 500 – 1/3 of respondents declare this, and 10 percent respondents save amounts over PLN 1,000. zloty. The higher the amount, the higher the accumulated capital in retirement and the better what we can do with it later – says Daniel Szewieczek.
In households with a monthly income of PLN 7.5-10 thousand. PLN, the percentage of savers increases to 50%, and where income exceeds PLN 10,000. PLN is saved by two thirds of respondents. Today, retirement is the second most frequently cited motivation for saving. It was indicated by 21 percent. respondents – an increase of 7 percentage points. compared to last year's edition of the study. In first place remains the so-called dark hour.
– Concerns about future retirement are primarily fear of one's health – 55 percent. respondents indicate this as their primary concern. 50 percent respondents also answer that they are afraid of lack of moneyand 24 percent – dependence on others, lack of independence – says the expert. – However, the study also clearly shows hope for retirement. 43 percent respondents indicate that they will have a lot of free time, and 40 percent says that you will realize your dreams, which is why it is so important to plan the financial aspects of retirement to be able to make these dreams come true.
Interestingly, more than half of future retirees have never checked what pension they can receive. In the youngest group, aged 18-24, as many as 77 percent admits that they did not do this – which is understandable, because many of these people are just starting their professional careers and entering the labor market. However, with age, interest in one's own future retirement benefits increases significantly. However, the expert emphasizes that it is worth building this awareness as early as possible, because it may have a significant impact on our decisions and financial future.
– Awareness of the amount of the future pension is low because we cannot calculate it fully. Most often, we use tools provided by the Social Insurance Institution or a letter sent by ZUS. Depending on age, people over 55 who are closer to retirement are more likely to look at and try to calculate what kind of pension they will receive, while younger people only 25%. they are trying to predict how much this pension will be. And today there are many possibilities for such a check, says the director of ING Bank Śląski.
The pension calculator on the ING website helps you estimate how much you can gain by saving on IKE or IKZE. This is additional money that may significantly affect our home budget in the future. Research shows that more and more Poles know these solutions and know how to use them.
– Just a few years ago, abbreviations such as PPK – employee capital plans or IKE – individual retirement account were virtually unknown. Today, almost 60 percent people declare that they know what it is. Even more advanced forms, such as IKZE, i.e. individual retirement security account, and PPE – employee pension program – are known by 40%. people. This is very good, because it means that people are becoming more and more aware, they know how to use these tools and they are interested in what their situation will look like in the future – emphasizes Daniel Szewieczek.
Data from the Polish Development Fund show that assets in PPK at the end of September this year. approached PLN 41 billion. That's 41 percent. more than in September 2024. Participation in the program increased to 55.3% and the number of active accounts exceeded 4.9 million.
– PPK is the most popular because it is a program commonly used by companies, but IKE is the most popular among individual clients due to the tax benefits this solution offers. It allows you to save capital gains for the future without taxation, and the limit is sufficient to make this amount significant – says an expert from ING Bank Śląski.
The PFSA report indicates that at the end of 2024, there were 964.6 thousand IKE, where assets worth PLN 22.8 billion were accumulated. A year earlier it was less than 860 thousand. and PLN 18.2 billion. IKZE are much less popular, which may be due to the fact that they began operating eight years later than IKE. For over 593 thousand accounts, Poles accumulated assets worth PLN 12.1 billion (a year earlier it was PLN 514,000 and PLN 9.2 billion, respectively).
