The Polish deposit insurance scheme compared to arrangements adopted in other EU countries

Despite their relatively short history, deposit insurance schemes (DISs) are currently a common element of the banking system. In 2004, 83 explicite DISs operated around the world. The Bank Guarantee Fund (Bankowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny – BFG) – the Polish institution guaranteeing household deposits – is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Over its 10 years of active operation the BFG has proved that, along with the National Bank of Poland and the Commission for Banking Supervision, it is among the most important institutions protecting the Polish financial system from destabilisation. The introductory part of this paper presents the position of the Bank Guarantee Fund within the Polish financial safety net. Other guarantee schemes operating in the Polish financial services sector have also been presented. Moreover, the paper explains the reasons for the launching of a DIS and points out the purposes for the establishment of the BFG. Further, it describes the evolution of Polish deposit guarantee arrangements since 1982. Special emphasis has also been put on the analysis of Bank Guarantee Fund administration. The main aim of this paper is to describe Polish deposit insurance scheme. Particular features of the Polish scheme are discussed with reference to the Community regulations in this field and also arrangements adopted in the remaining 24 countries of the European Union. The third chapter of this paper describes the fundamental area of the Fund’s activity, i.e. guarantee activities consisting in making compensation payouts to depositors in the event of a bank’s bankruptcy. The scope of coverage (eligible types of deposits and depositors) offered by the Polish scheme has been analysed. The scope of the BFG’s guarantee activities from 1995 to 2004 has also been presented. In the fourth chapter, the BFG’s activities aimed at minimising risk in the banking sector have been presented. The principles and experience of the Fund regarding financial support for the rehabilitation of banks threatened with insolvency have been discussed in greatest detail here. The fifth chapter describes the principles and procedures regarding the financing of guarantee and assistance activities of the Bank Guarantee Fund. In the summary, the paper indicates possible directions for changes in the BFG legislation. It has been pointed out that despite the fact that Polish regulations comply with EU requirements,they must be adjusted to suit the changing domestic conditions.deposit insurance scheme, bank failure, assistance activities, Polish banking sector, financial stability, financial safety net, central bank, banking supervision, Community regulations

Nesting interactions of the social wasp Dolichovespula saxonica [F.] (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in wooden nest boxes for birds in the forest reserve „Las Piwnicki” in the Chełmno Land (Northern Poland)

The aim of this research was to investigate the process of colonization in wooden nest boxes for birds by the wasp Dolichovespula saxonica [F.] in the forest reserve “Las Piwnicki” during 1986-1987. About 69% of 150 nest boxes were colonized (36% by D. saxonica) in 1986 and 35% (10% by D. saxonica) in 1987. Parasite Shecophaga vesparum Court was observed inside small cell nests (SC) and large cell nests (LC) in the ratio of 5(SC) : 3(LC). During the two seasons, the decrease in the number of parasited nests followed with the ratio of 10(1986) : 1(1987). Competition of the „wasp - wasp” type (VV) compared to other competition types, such as „wasp - bird” (VA) and different types with wasps (DT), was the most frequent one among the interactions and followed with the ratio 1(VV) : 7(VA) : 5(DT). The number and proportions of construction types of nests during the studied growing seasons seem to prove the regular and irregular development of the Dolichovespula saxonica colony

PHENOLOGY OF SOCIAL WASPS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPINAE) IN THE KUJAWY REGION (NORTHERN POLAND) UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC CHANGES 1981–2000

Duration of flight periods were determined for most numerous species of social wasps for two decades 1981–1990 and 1991–2000. The tendency to shorten the duration of wasps’ flight periods by 12–18% was observed during 1990s. An attempt was undertaken to associate this phenomenon with observed climatic changes that shape nutritional resources of Vespinae.

Koszty restrukturyzacji sektora bankowego w Polsce

The aim of this paper is to estimate the costs of banking sector restructuring in Poland, borne by the government and the central bank in the years 1993-2006. The authors focused mainly on the assistance measures that directly contributed to generating costs. Aggregated costs of the banking sector restructuring borne in the years 1993-2006 by public bodies amounted to 18.6 billion zloty (22.4 billion zloty in 2006 prices), corresponding to 2.61% of the annual GDP. The largest costs related to the tools employed in the banking sector restructuring process were those of servicing restructuring bonds allocated by the State Treasury to finance threatened banks (over 80% of total costs). The largest share of assistance went to state-owned banks, i.e. 90.3% in current prices. Total costs of banking sector restructuring in Poland are not high when compared to such costs in other transition countries.banking sector restructuring, banking crises, fiscal costs, financial stability

Structural dynamic of social wasp communities (Hymenoptera: Vespinae) in forest areas destroyed by acid rains in the Karkonosze Mountains

The structure of the social wasp communities was studied in the forest areas of the Karkonosze Mts. transformed by acid rains in 1989 and 1994. A significant increase of species diversity (H') was observed in the season of the even year, which resulted from the increased competing interactions between queen mothers. Whereas the distribution of the species' number decreased together with the altitude proportionally to natural distribution of the species' number recorded in the Tatra Mts. On the other hand, the only significantly increased value in the dynamics of Vespinae density in vegetation zones of the Karkonosze Mts. was recorded for the lower subalpine forest. While observing the progressing successive restoration of forests, one can assume that the recorded structural changes in communities of social wasps represent their transitional state

Immunohistochemical detection of dopamine D2 receptors in human pituitary adenomas.

Thirty one pituitary adenomas and 3 samples of peritumoral anterior pituitary tissue were immunostained with an antibody raised against dopamine D2 receptor protein. The positive reactions were found in cell cytoplasm, a subpopulation of cell nuclei and the intratumoral blood vessels walls. As expected, the positive immunostaining was shown in cytoplasm and/or cell nuclei of all examined prolactinomas (7/7). In acromegaly the positive D2 staining occurred in 5/7 samples, in gonadotropinomas in 6/8 and in plurihormonal adenomas 2/4. The lowest expression was observed in corticotropinomas (1/5). These findings corroborate with the well known efficacy of D2 agonists in the treatment of prolactinomas and somatotropinomas, and support the rationale of the therapeutic trials with these compounds in gonadotropinomas. Moreover, the presence of D2 receptors in intratumoral blood vessels walls constitutes the possibility of the anti-angiogenic action of D2 agonists in pituitary adenomas

Dynamics of bee communities (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformes) in heath and grassland patches during secondary succession of the Peucedano-Pinetum series in the Toruń Basin

Structural dynamics of bee communities was described in the heath area subject to succession of coniferous forest Peucedano-Pinetum. As pine trees successively overgrew the area, two-threefold decrease in the number of species was observed. Flowering of heather increased the food attractiveness of the heath for species of social bees. Stabilization of the structure of bee communities in the heath was observed as a consequence of placing a portable apiary