ABN AMRO lifted its third-quarter net profit by 52% from a year earlier to €940 million, taking its return on equity for the year to date to 12.5%, the bank said. After strong net interest income, supported by the favourable interest rate environment, it raised its guidance for commercial net interest income for 2026 to above €6.9 billion.
Net interest income rose 15% from a year earlier, and operating income climbed 22%. Credit quality was sound, the bank said, with €11 million of net impairment releases, and its CET1 ratio stood at 15.3%, reflecting the acquisition of NIBC and continued capital optimisation.
NIBC AND HIGHER RATES
NIBC contributed to the quarter's results following its inclusion from 1 August. The bank said NIBC strengthens its position in mortgages, with €15 billion, and in savings, with €13 billion.
Commercial net interest income increased by 7% in the quarter. In response to inflationary pressures, the European Central Bank raised its deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.50% in September, the bank noted.
Cost reductions continued, the bank said. The cost/income ratio improved to 53.2% from 64.9% a year earlier, and the bank kept its full-year cost guidance at €5.5 billion. Return on average equity reached 14.5% in the quarter, against 9.5% in the third quarter of 2025.
A CONCENTRATED HOME MARKET
The Dutch banking system is highly concentrated. The five largest credit institutions held 81.3% of sector assets in 2025, according to ECB structural indicators, and three groups dominate: ING, the cooperative Rabobank and ABN AMRO.
The state is still reducing its holding. On 7 October the Dutch state announced a new trading programme to cut its shareholding to 10.5%, the fifth such plan since early 2023, the bank said.
SIMPLER STRUCTURE, GROWING WEALTH ARM
The bank completed the sale of Alfam on 1 November, after merging ABN AMRO Hypotheken Group into ABN AMRO in October, and said about 46% of its 2028 workforce reduction target had already been achieved.
Wealth Management's core net new assets were approaching €4.1 billion for the year to date, keeping the bank on track for its annual growth ambition of €5-7 billion, it said.
THE TGB VIEW
ABN AMRO ranks 26th in Europe in the TGB Bank Rankings, with a 2025 return on equity of 8.3%, behind its two Dutch rivals ING Group (12th, 12.7%) and Rabobank (22nd, 8.9%). On its own measure, the bank's return on average equity rose to 14.5% in the third quarter from 9.5% a year earlier, with net interest income up 15% and supported, it says, by the favourable interest rate environment. The next point to watch is the update of its targets, which the bank says will come next quarter.
Related: Dutch state announced latest ABN Amro sell-down towards 10.5% stake
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