Broker

The Act of 22 May 2003 governs brokerage activities on Insurance Intermediation (consolidated text, Journal of Laws of 2016.2077).

The Act defines brokerage activities, i.e. activities on behalf of or for the benefit of an entity seeking insurance protection, such as:

- concluding insurance contracts
- performing preparatory activities for concluding insurance contracts, participating in managing and execution of insurance contracts, including compensation cases,
- organizing and supervising brokerage activities.

The role of an insurance broker holds all the characteristics of a profession of public trust. Increased diligence, impeccable reputation and high business culture are absolute requirements for the practice of insurance advisors.

Brokerage activity is controlled by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority and involves special requirements, i.e. obligation of secrecy, whose scope is comparable to banking secrecy. An insurance broker performs insurance intermediation activities with the help of natural persons, whose substantive predispositions are verified before the State Examination Board for Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers.

A broker is subject to compulsory civil liability insurance (professional) in respect of damages to its Clients that occurred in connection with the performance of brokerage activities. The legislator now requires from independent insurance intermediaries the obligation to have a civil liability insurance contract with a guaranteed sum much higher than those required for mandatory policies of other public trusts professions, i.e. legal counsels or solicitors. This is yet another procedure that ensures the safety of companies using the services of an insurance advisor. EIB has a civil liability insurance policy with one of the highest sums guaranteed in the market amounting over 50 million EUR.