DNB Bank reported second-quarter 2026 profits after tax of NOK 9.8 billion on Tuesday, with return on equity of 14.6% and earnings per share of NOK 6.5, as Norway's largest lender pointed to lending growth in all segments, high customer activity and record net flow into its asset-management business.

Return on equity rose 0.6 percentage points from the first quarter of 2026, while year-to-date earnings per share reached NOK 13.01, according to the group's second-quarter and first-half report.

LENDING GROWTH DRIVES QUARTER

Total lending growth was 1.4% in the quarter and lending volume was 4.3% higher than a year earlier, with growth across customer segments, industries and geographies, the Oslo-based bank said. Profit performance in the corporate customer market was particularly good, driven by low losses and strong commission income and market activity.

Earnings per share of NOK 6.5 for the quarter brings the year-to-date total to NOK 13.01, compared with NOK 13.83 a year earlier; quarterly profit was NOK 621 million, or 6%, lower than in the second quarter of 2025. Return on equity was down from 15.4% a year earlier; DNB's overriding financial target is a return on equity above 14%.

Chief executive Kjerstin Braathen said activity in the Norwegian economy remained high and robust in the face of global uncertainty.

RECORD ASSET MANAGEMENT INFLOWS

Net flow into asset management reached a record NOK 46 billion in the quarter and assets under management a record NOK 1,782 billion, while asset-management income rose 13.4% from a year earlier.

Net commission and fee income rose 4.6% from a year earlier and 10.6% from the previous quarter, driven mainly by investment banking, where income rose 18.7% quarter on quarter. The proportion of income from customer activities other than loans and deposits continued to increase, DNB said.

DNB reported ahead of interim results from SEB and Handelsbanken on 15 July, Nordea on 16 July and Swedbank and Danske Bank on 17 July.

The common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 17.4% at end-June, down from 18.3% a year earlier, and the cost/income ratio was 40.3%.