Polish literature of the subject so far lacks an overall analysis of the demand for bank credit for small and medium size private enterprise. Knowledge of these features of demand is of major importance, both in terms of the functioning of small bank credit and of the borrowers, as well as for the state's economic policy towards small or medium size enterprises. The paper analyzes some of such enterprises' basic features of demand for credit, confronting the supply side of the credit market. Considerable differences in mutual adjustment between demand and supply features of small bank credit observed lead to the conclusion that the self-regulating mechanism of the bank credit market is not effective enough and needs necessary corrections by the state's economic policy. The policy should aim at enlarging the access of small and medium size private enterprise to foreign capital as the source of financing. Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/2016