NatWest has enhanced its full-year outlook and declared a 9.5p interim dividend alongside a £750m share buyback programme following “a strong H1 2025 performance” in its inaugural results since returning to complete private ownership.
For the opening six months of 2025, NatWest Group revealed to shareholders that its attributable profit had climbed to £2.5bn, as reported by City AM.
The bank recorded a 28 per cent year-on-year surge in earnings per share to 30.9p, whilst the group delivered a robust return on tangible equity of 18.1 per cent.
The group completed its transition to full private ownership in May following the government’s disposal of its final 0.26 per cent holding in the organisation.
Throughout the first half, the group’s customer deposits (excluding central items) expanded by £4.5bn, with £2.4bn stemming from the acquisition of Sainsbury’s Bank.
NatWest assumed control of Sainsbury’s Bank’s retail banking operations, with the integration scheduled for completion within this six-month period.
The group informed shareholders it continues “to actively manage our balance sheet and risk”, delivering £2.9bn of risk-weighted assets (RWA) management actions as the group established capacity for expansion.
Its common equity tier one ratio of 13.6 per cent remained consistent with the fourth quarter of 2024, whilst tangible net asset value per share rose by 22p to 351p.
Regarding its prospects, the banking group reinforced its guidance, now anticipating its return on tangible equity to surpass 16.5 per cent and its income (excluding notable items) to exceed £16bn throughout 2025. Chief Executive Paul Thwaite said the “Group’s strong performance in the first half of the year reflects our consistent support for our customers and, in turn, delivery for our shareholders.
“Having returned to full private ownership in Q2 2025, NatWest Group is well placed to step up and play its part in supporting economic growth across the UK and, in doing so, to create sustainable value for all our stakeholders,” he added.
