Danske Bank has reported a significant increase in its pre-tax profit for the first six months of 2025, reaching £118.4 million.
It marked a 15% uplift on the profit-before-tax the Belfast-based lender reported for the same period last year.
It followed higher revenues for the bank in the first half (H1) 2025, rising 10% to £206.9m, with expenses rising 2.7% to £87.3m.
Danske Bank said lending to customers increased 7% year-on-year during H1 2025 to £6.6 billion, while customer deposits increased by 9% to £11.8bn.
The bank’s Belfast-based chief executive Vicky Davies said mortgage lending approvals also increased by around 12% year-on-year.
“We expect a healthy level of mortgage lending to continue locally throughout 2025 – supported by our competitive product offering, a reducing interest rate environment, sustained levels of demand for housing and continued low unemployment rates,” said the bank boss.
“We are also growing our mortgage business in Great Britain, where, through broker networks, we have approved around £150m in mortgage lending in the first six months of the year.”
Ms Davies also confirmed Danske Bank will complete the relocation of its Derry City operation to Ebrington Plaza in November.
It will bring to an end the bank’s 158-year association with Shipquay Street.
“Around 40 colleagues will relocate from Shipquay Place in the city to this grade A modern office space, which will become home to our regional customer protection centre team and serve as a base when required for our local mortgage advisers, small business advisers and agribusiness managers,” said the CEO.