Danske Bank lifted the minimum of its 2026 net profit outlook by DKK 1 billion after stronger interest and fee income helped push nine-month earnings higher, the Danish lender said Thursday.
The bank now expects net profit of DKK 24 billion to DKK 25 billion for the year, compared with its July range of DKK 23 billion to DKK 25 billion. The upper end is unchanged, while the lower end has risen by DKK 1 billion.
Net profit for the nine months ended Sept. 30 reached DKK 18.277 billion, compared with DKK 16.730 billion in the year-earlier period. Third-quarter profit was DKK 6.390 billion, against DKK 5.520 billion a year before, according to Danske Bank’s interim report.
Total income advanced to DKK 43.861 billion from DKK 41.613 billion. Net interest income was DKK 28.280 billion, versus DKK 27.157 billion, and net fee income rose to DKK 12.048 billion from DKK 10.568 billion. The bank linked interest income growth to increased deposit and lending volumes and better deposit margins. It attributed higher fees to investment-related income and more daily banking activity.
Net trading income fell to DKK 1.479 billion from DKK 2.362 billion. Danske Bank cited weaker Fixed Income performance amid geopolitical uncertainty, as well as hedging and liquidity-management activity.
Operating expenses totaled DKK 19.386 billion, up from DKK 18.990 billion. The bank linked the increase to Forward ’28 investments in technology and AI and higher provisions for performance-based compensation. Net loan impairment charges were DKK 65 million, compared with DKK 258 million a year earlier; the third quarter included a net reversal of DKK 200 million.
Return on equity was 14.3% for the nine-month period, compared with 13% a year earlier. Danske Bank expects the measure to exceed 14% for 2026. Its cost/income ratio improved to 44.2% from 45.6%. Chief Executive Carsten Egeriis said, “More customers are choosing us and trusting us with their business.”
The bank’s 2026 annual report is scheduled for release Feb. 4, 2027, according to its investor relations calendar.
