As a result of research carried out in this field, the basic forms of corporate governance in banking have been recorded as well as their relation to the financial results generated by these banks and the risks they take. A review conducted at international level indicated the existence of highly differentiated forms of corporate governance in banking systems. In most countries, banks governed by a shareholder holding the majority package of shares, which exceeds 50% of the shares in absolute terms (and equity, typically), prevails. In the Polish banking system, rapid changes were observed in the governance structures in individual banks during the second half of the 90s. Research carried out in this area indicates a differentiation in the results generated by banks when dividing the banks into groups by the form and type of corporate governance; however, the differentiation is not significant. Within the period analysed (1997 to 2000), the banks with a dominant and majority shareholder displayed an increased effectiveness, higher rates of return, and were less vulnerable to technological changes as compared with banks with a more dispersed ownership structure. Typically, the fact that a bank has a minority shareholder in its ownership structure results in a falling capital adequacy ratio, which may indicate a more effective employment of the bank's equity, as long as the ratio is maintained above the minimum level required by the supervisory authorities. The article ends with the authors' suggestions as to follow-up research in this area.