KBC Group reported a second-quarter net profit of €1,152 million on Thursday and raised its full-year 2026 guidance for net interest income and total income. The quarterly profit compared with €557 million in the first quarter and €1,018 million a year earlier. Total income benefited from higher net interest income, insurance revenues, trading and fair value income, net fee and commission income and the seasonal peak in dividend income.
The Brussels-based group, which combines banking and insurance operations across Belgium, the Czech Republic and other central European markets, described the quarterly net profit as excellent.
BROAD-BASED INCOME STRENGTH
The first-half net result came to €1,709 million, up 9% on the year-earlier figure. The Belgium, Czech Republic and International Markets business units all contributed to the result.
Insurance revenues, trading and fair value income and net fee and commission income were also higher, while net other income declined.
GUIDANCE RAISED FOR NII AND TOTAL INCOME
KBC raised its 2026 net interest income guidance to approximately €7.05 billion, from at least €6,725 million, and its total income guidance to growth of approximately 11.0% year on year, from at least 9.9%.
KBC's fully loaded common equity ratio stood at 14.4% under Basel IV.
KBC announced an interim dividend of €1 per share, to be paid in November 2026 as an advance on the total dividend for financial year 2026. Operating expenses were down significantly on the previous quarter, when annual bank and insurance taxes were booked, and loan loss impairment charges fell significantly quarter on quarter.