Danske Bank’s lending to business customers here in Northern Ireland was up 10% year on year for 2025, with new lending approvals for business customers topping the £1 billion mark, a rise of some 35%.
The bank also posted a pre-tax profit of £250.7 million for 2025 from a total income of £433.3 million. Deposits were also up 9% year on year, reaching a record high of £12 billion.
Notable business deals included growth funding support for local Andras House Hotel Group, Vision Fabrications, Manfreight, Hillmount garden centres, Cathedral Eye Clinic, Orto Pizza, Bruce Engineering, as well as a growing number of local housing associations, including Apex, Radius Housing and Rural Housing.
“We also attracted over 1,700 new small business customers to Danske Bank and lending approvals for small businesses were up 11% year-on-year,” said Danske Bank UK CEO Vicky Davies.
“In 2025 we maintained our position as a leading provider of mortgages in Northern Ireland, delivering a record £790 million in local mortgage lending approvals – an increase of around 7% year-on-year. We expect a healthy level of mortgage lending to continue locally throughout this year – supported by our competitive product offering, a reducing interest rate environment, sustained levels of demand for housing and continued low unemployment rates.
From its Belfast headquarters, Danske Bank is continuing to grow its presence in the GB marketplace. “Across last year we approved over £320 million in mortgage lending, with British Housing Associations also being supported through around £200 million in lending approvals.”
“When it comes to everyday banking in Northern Ireland, we welcomed over 14,000 new personal current account customers and it was noteworthy that around 40% of them were under 18 years old. In 2025 we were also named a Which? Recommended Provider for personal current accounts.
“In addition to our easy-to-use digital banking platforms, Danske Bank customers are supported on the ground through our 24 branches, local contact centre, mortgage advisers, private banking team, business relationship managers, and presence across local banking hubs.
“In 2025 the Bank also reinforced our commitment to the North-West by establishing a new office at Ebrington Plaza in Derry-Londonderry. This Grade A modern office space is now home to our Customer Protection Centre team and serves as a base when required for our local mortgage advisers, small business advisers and agribusiness managers. Last year also saw continued branch investment, including the opening of new more fit for purpose high street premises in Ballymoney – with similar style branch relocations in Coleraine and Lisburn to be completed over the weeks ahead.”