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Revenue: EUR17.2 billion for the first half of 2026, on track to reach EUR33 billion for the full year.

Post-Tax Profit: EUR4.1 billion, highest ever for a half year.

Post-Tax ROTE: Increased to 11.9%.

Cost-to-Income Ratio: Improved to 60.9%.

CET1 Capital Ratio: 13.9%.

Share Buyback: Announced EUR500 million share buyback from 2026 net income.

Assets Under Management: Grew by nearly EUR270 billion or 16% year-on-year to EUR1.92 trillion.

Loans: Increased by 4% year-on-year.

Deposits: Rose by 7% year-on-year.

Net Revenues: EUR8.5 billion for the second quarter.

Profit Before Tax: Increased by 11% year-on-year.

Net Interest Income (NII): EUR3.6 billion for the second quarter.

Non-Interest Expenses: Up 8% year-on-year at around EUR5.3 billion.

Provisions for Credit Losses: EUR460 million.

Private Bank Revenue Growth: 8% increase, driven by 10% growth in net interest income.

Asset Management Net Flows: Record EUR25 billion in the second quarter.

Corporate Bank Revenues: EUR1.9 billion, up 1% year-on-year.

Investment Bank Revenue Growth: 19% higher year-on-year for the second quarter.

Release Date: July 29, 2026

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) reported a record post-tax profit of EUR 4.1 billion for the first half of 2026, the highest ever for a half-year.

The bank’s revenue grew to EUR 17.2 billion, with a strong contribution from the Investment Bank and focused growth areas.

Assets under management increased by nearly EUR 270 billion year-on-year, supported by record inflows of EUR 56 billion across private bank and asset management.

Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) announced a new EUR 500 million share buyback from 2026 net income, indicating strong earnings momentum and confidence.

The bank’s CET1 capital ratio was 13.9%, in line with its operating range, supported by strong organic capital generation.

Negative Points

The cost-to-income ratio, although improved, still stands at 60.9%, indicating room for further efficiency improvements.

Non-interest expenses increased by 8% year-on-year, reflecting higher fixed pay, performance-related compensation, and costs related to strategic actions.

Provisions for credit losses were EUR 460 million, with targeted actions to de-risk the portfolio impacting the quarter.

The bank faces challenges from dynamic market conditions and geopolitical risks, which could impact future performance.

Despite strong performance, the bank’s revenue guidance remains cautious due to potential market volatility and economic uncertainties.

Story Continues

Q & A Highlights

Q: You’re on track for $33 billion revenue ambition this year. How should we think about the balance of tailwinds and headwinds for H2 performance, and what’s your conviction level on achieving the greater than 13% return on tangible equity target for 2028? A: We are pleased with the performance across all four businesses, which demonstrates the strength and diversification of our franchise. We see momentum continuing in all divisions, with strong asset management flows and corporate bank improvements. We remain confident in achieving the $33 billion revenue target for 2026 and are optimistic about exceeding the 13% ROTE target for 2028, given the positive trends in Germany and AI advancements.

Q: Can you clarify your comment about additional loan losses to de-risk the portfolio? What magnitude are we talking about, and could this offset any revenue overshoot? A: We are seeing better credit trends in 2026 compared to 2025. We made a targeted decision to de-risk our commercial real estate portfolio, which had a capital accretive impact. If similar opportunities arise in the second half, we will consider them, but we don’t expect significant deviations from our current guidance.

Q: You had a capital beat this quarter and are above your guidance. What would refrain you from distributing more than the 60% payout from this year? A: We aim to operate within the 13.5% to 14% CET1 ratio range. We are cautious about guiding to 14% but are committed to sustainable capital returns. We have increased our payout ratio to 60% and executed a share buyback based on six months’ earnings, showing confidence in our capital position.

Q: Regarding the Private Bank, how should we think about advisor hires and net new money flows considering you’re hiring fast? A: We are pleased with the progress in hiring advisors, having already hired 116 out of the targeted 250. This is contributing to strong net new money flows, particularly in wealth management. We expect this trend to continue, supported by our investments in technology and client experience improvements.

Q: On the Corporate Bank, I see loan growth and asset growth, but margins are declining. What is driving your confidence in the second half and beyond? A: We are seeing diminishing FX and interest rate headwinds, which gives us confidence in achieving mid to high single-digit growth. We are growing fee and commission income and benefiting from a better interest rate outlook. The corporate bank is well-positioned for growth, supported by loan growth and strong deposit betas.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.