BNP Paribas reported second-quarter 2026 group net banking income of €14,091 million, up 12.0% year on year, as the Paris-based lender delivered double-digit revenue growth across its franchise and an improved cost-to-income ratio on the back of operating leverage.
The group also flagged that gross operating income at its Corporate & Institutional Banking (CIB) division rose to €2,446 million, an increase of 15.9% on the corresponding quarter a year earlier, according to figures disclosed in its second-quarter 2026 results release.
REVENUE UP 12% ACROSS THE GROUP
Group net banking income of €14,091 million compared with €12,581 million in the second quarter of 2025. All three operating divisions grew revenues: Corporate & Institutional Banking by 12.7%, Commercial, Personal Banking & Services by 4.8% and Investment & Protection Services by 27.3%.
BNP Paribas operates through three main pillars: Commercial, Personal Banking and Services, which covers retail and commercial banking across Europe and beyond; Investment and Protection Services, spanning insurance, wealth management and asset management; and Corporate and Institutional Banking, the group's wholesale arm active in global markets, banking and securities services.
The mix of activities means the group's revenues are drawn from a broad range of underlying drivers, from interest income on European retail loan books through to fees and commissions in wealth and asset management and trading income at the CIB. Global Markets and Securities Services revenues each rose 17.5%, while IPS revenues were boosted by the integration of AXA IM.
COST DISCIPLINE LIFTS OPERATING LEVERAGE
Operating expenses rose 10.4% to €7,986 million, below revenue growth of 12.0%, giving a positive jaws effect of 1.6 points, and the cost-income ratio improved by 0.8 point to 56.7%.
The 15.9% rise in gross operating income at CIB to €2,446 million provides a specific data point for the operating leverage story. CIB revenues rose 12.7% to €5,281 million while its operating expenses increased 10.2%, a positive jaws effect of 2.6 points, and its cost-income ratio was 53.7%.
Net income, Group share, rose 33.4% to €4,345 million, including a positive €761 million impact from exceptional items, mainly an €858 million capital gain on the Ageas/AGI transaction; return on tangible equity was 13.3%.
BNP Paribas is the largest bank in the euro area by total assets.
Chief Executive Jean-Laurent Bonnafé said the group achieved strong results driven by momentum across its business lines, the strength of its diversified model and the acceleration of its transformation, particularly in artificial intelligence. Further detail on segment revenue and profit trends is set out in the group's investor slides and business line appendices published alongside the earnings release.
Group gross operating income rose 14.1% to €6,105 million, and the cost of risk was 39 basis points of customer loans, in line with the group's guidance of below 40 basis points for 2026.
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