Interim Results - NatWest Group (Part 2 of 2)

RNS Number : 1757U
NatWest Group plc
29 July 2022
 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk 

Introduction

NatWest Group continually ensures a comprehensive approach is taken to the management of capital, liquidity and funding, underpinned by frameworks, risk appetite and policies, to manage and mitigate capital, liquidity and funding risks. The framework ensures the tools and capability are in place to facilitate the management and mitigation of risk ensuring that NatWest Group operates within its regulatory requirements and risk appetite.

Key developments

CET1

The CET1 ratio decreased by 390 basis points to 14.3%. The decrease is primarily due to a £22.8 billion increase in RWAs and a £2.9 billion decrease in CET1 capital.

The CET1 decrease is mainly driven by:

-  the directed buyback of £1.2 billion;

-  foreseeable dividend accrual of £2.3 billion (special dividend will be paid on 16 September 2022, subject to approval at a General Meeting, with the notice and circular publication on 9 August 2022 and the General Meeting scheduled for 25 August 2022);

-  a £0.3 billion decrease in the IFRS 9 transitional adjustment;

-  the removal of adjustment for prudential amortisation on   software development costs of £0.4 billion;

-  a £0.3 billion decrease due to FX loss on retranslation on the redemption of a USD instrument; and

-  other reserve movements.

These reductions were partially offset by the £1.9 billion attributable profit in the period.

MREL (LAC)

MREL (LAC) ratio as a percentage of risk-weighted assets decreased to 31.7% from 39.8% due to a £22.8 billion increase in RWAs and £5.4 billion decrease in MREL resources.   The ratio remains well above the minimum of 22.2%, calculated as 2 x (Pillar 1 + Pillar 2A).


In the first half of 2022 there were redemptions of $3 billion and €1.5 billion Senior debt, and $1 billion Tier 1 instruments. These were partially offset by new issuances of $1 billion and £0.75 billion Senior debt.

Total RWAs

Total RWAs increased by £22.8 billion to £179.8 billion during H1 2022 reflecting:

-  An increase in credit risk RWAs of £23.6 billion, primarily due to £19.4 billion of model adjustments applied as a result of new regulation applicable to IRB models from 1 January 2022, in addition to increased exposure in Commercial & Institutional and Retail Banking. This was partially offset by improved risk metrics in Commercial & Institutional and Retail Banking.

-  An increase in market risk RWAs of £0.6 billion, driven by a raised capital multiplier for NWM Plc affecting VaR and SVaR calculations.

-  An increase in counterparty credit risk RWAs of £0.4 billion, mainly driven by the implementation of SA-CCR affecting the RWA calculation for non-internally modelled exposure.

-  A decrease in operational risk RWAs of £1.9 billion following the annual recalculation. 

UK leverage ratio

The leverage ratio at 30 June 2022 is 5.2% and has been calculated in accordance with changes to the UK's leverage ratio framework which were introduced by the PRA and came into effect from 1 January 2022. As at 31 December 2021, the UK leverage ratio was 5.9%, which was calculated under the prior year's UK leverage methodology. The key driver of the decrease is a £3.5 billion decrease in Tier 1 capital.

Liquidity portfolio

The liquidity portfolio decreased by £18.0 billion to £268.4 billion, with primary liquidity decreasing by £10.3 billion to £198.3 billion. The decrease in primary liquidity is driven by shareholder distributions (share buyback and dividends), redemption of Senior debt, maturing commercial papers and certificates of deposit and a marginal increase in lending outstripping growth in deposits. The reduction in secondary liquidity is due to a reduction in the pre-positioned collateral at the Bank of England.

 



 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Maximum Distributable Amount (MDA) and Minimum Capital Requirements

NatWest Group is subject to minimum capital requirements relative to RWAs. The table below summarises the minimum capital requirements (the sum of Pillar 1 and Pillar 2A), and the additional capital buffers which are held in excess of the regulatory minimum requirements and are usable in stress.

Where the CET1 ratio falls below the sum of the minimum capital and the combined buffer requirement, there is a subsequent automatic restriction on the amount available to service discretionary payments (including AT1 coupons), known as the MDA. Note that different capital requirements apply to individual legal entities or sub-groups and that the table shown does not reflect any incremental PRA buffer requirements, which are not disclosable.

The current capital position provides significant headroom above both NatWest Group's minimum requirements and its MDA threshold requirements.

Type

CET1

Total Tier 1

Total capital

Pillar 1 requirements

4.5%

6.0%

8.0%

Pillar 2A requirements

1.7%

2.3%

3.1%

Minimum Capital Requirements

6.2%

8.3%

11.1%

Capital conservation buffer

2.5%

2.5%

2.5%

Countercyclical capital buffer (1)  

-

-

-

MDA threshold (2)

8.7%

 

n/a

 

n/a

Subtotal

8.7%

10.8%

13.6%

Capital ratios at 30 June 2022

14.3%

16.4%

19.3%

Headroom (3)

5.6%

5.6%

5.7%









(1)  In response to COVID-19 many countries reduced their CCyB rates. In December 2021, the Financial Policy Committee announced an increase in the UK CCyB rate from 0% to 1% effective from 13 December 2022.   A further increase from 1% to 2% was announced on 5 July 2022, effective 5 July 2023.   In June 2022, the Central Bank of Ireland announced that the CCyB on Irish exposures will increase from 0% to 0.5%, applicable from 15 June 2023.   This is the first step towards a gradual increase which, conditional on macro-financial developments, would see a CCyB of 1.5% announced by mid-2023, which is expected to be applicable from June 2024.

(2)  Pillar 2A requirements for NatWest Group are set on a nominal capital basis. The PRA has confirmed that from Q4 2022 Pillar 2A will be set as a variable amount with the exception of some fixed add-ons.

(3)  The headroom does not reflect excess distributable capital and may vary over time.

 



 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Capital and leverage ratios

The table below sets out the key capital and leverage ratios. From 1 January 2022, NatWest Group is subject to the requirements set out in the PRA Rulebook. Therefore, going forward the capital and leverage ratios are being presented under these frameworks on a transitional basis.


30 June

31 December


2022

2021

Capital adequacy ratios   (1)

%

%

CET1

14.3

18.2

Tier 1

16.4

21.0

Total

19.3

24.7




Capital

£m

£m

Tangible equity

27,858

30,689


 


Prudential valuation adjustment

(316)

(274)

Deferred tax assets

(738)

(761)

Own credit adjustments

(99)

21

Pension fund assets

(471)

(465)

Cash flow hedging reserve

1,526

395

Foreseeable dividends and pension contributions

(2,250)

(1,211)

Foreseeable charges - on-market ordinary share buyback programme

(91)

(825)

Prudential amortisation of software development costs

-

411

Adjustments under IFRS 9 transitional arrangements

284

621

Insufficient coverage for non-performing exposures

(10)

(5)

Total deductions

(2,165)

(2,093)


 


CET1 capital

25,693

28,596


 


End-point AT1 capital

3,875

3,875

Grandfathered instrument transitional arrangements

-

571

Transitional AT1 capital

3,875

4,446

Tier 1 capital

29,568

33,042


 


End-point Tier 2 capital

5,011

5,402

Grandfathered instrument transitional arrangements

172

304

Transitional Tier 2 capital

5,183

5,706

Total regulatory capital

34,751

38,748


 


Risk-weighted assets

 


Credit risk

143,765

120,116

Counterparty credit risk

8,352

7,907

Market risk

8,563

7,917

Operational risk

19,115

21,031

Total RWAs

179,795

156,971

 

(1)  Based on current PRA rules, therefore includes the transitional relief on grandfathered capital instruments and the transitional arrangements for the capital impact of IFRS 9 expected credit loss (ECL) accounting. The impact of the IFRS 9 transitional adjustments at 30 June 2022 was £0.3 billion for CET1 capital, £62 million for total capital and £32 million RWAs (31 December 2021 - £0.6 billion CET1 capital, £0.5 billion total capital and £36 million RWAs). Excluding these adjustments, the CET1 ratio would be 14.1% (31 December 2021 - 17.8%). The transitional relief on grandfathered instruments at 30 June 2022 was £0.2 billion (31 December 2021 - £0.9 billion). Excluding both the transitional relief on grandfathered capital instruments and the transitional arrangements for the capital impact of IFRS 9 expected credit loss (ECL) accounting, the end-point Tier 1 capital ratio would be 16.3% (31 December 2021 - 20.3%) and the end-point Total capital ratio would be 19.3% (31 December 2021 - 23.8%).



 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Capital and leverage ratios continued

 

30 June

31 December

 

2022

2021

Leverage

£m

£m

Cash and balances at central banks

179,525

177,757

Trading assets

65,604

59,158

Derivatives

109,342

106,139

Financial assets

412,115

412,817

Other assets

25,705

17,106

Assets of disposal groups

14,187

9,015

Total assets

806,478

781,992

Derivatives

 


  - netting and variation margin

(107,295)

(110,204)

  - potential future exposures

20,552

35,035

Securities financing transactions gross up

5,184

1,397

Other off balance sheet items

45,095

44,240

Regulatory deductions and other adjustments

(16,314)

(8,980)

Claims on central banks

(176,163)

(174,148)

Exclusion of bounce back loans

(6,785)

(7,474)

UK leverage exposure  

570,752

561,858

UK leverage ratio (%)   (1)

5.2

5.9

 

(1)  The UK leverage exposure is calculated in accordance with the Leverage Ratio (CRR) part of the PRA Rulebook, and transitional Tier 1 capital is calculated in accordance with the PRA Rulebook. Excluding the IFRS 9 transitional adjustment, the UK leverage ratio would be 5.1% (31 December 2021 - 5.8%).

 

Capital flow statement

The table below analyses the movement in CET1, AT1 and Tier 2 capital for the half year ended 30 June 2022. It is being presented on a transitional basis as calculated under the PRA Rulebook Instrument requirements.


CET1

AT1

Tier 2

Total


£m

£m

£m

£m

At 31 December 2021

28,596

4,446

5,706

38,748

Attributable profit for the period

1,891

-

-

1,891

Directed buyback  

(1,212)

-

-

(1,212)

Foreseeable dividends  

(2,250)

-

-

(2,250)

Foreign exchange reserve

199

-

-

199

FVOCI reserve

(336)

-

-

(336)

Own credit

(120)

-

-

(120)

Share capital and reserve movements in respect of employee share schemes

64

-

-

64

Goodwill and intangibles deduction

(557)

-

-

(557)

Deferred tax assets

23

-

-

23

Prudential valuation adjustments

(42)

-

-

(42)

End of 2021 transitional relief on grandfathered instruments  

-

(571)

(232)

(803)

Net dated subordinated debt instruments

-

-

(605)

(605)

Foreign exchange movements

(254)

-

509

255

Adjustment under IFRS 9 transitional arrangements

(337)

-

-

(337)

Other movements

28

-

(195)

(167)

At 30 June 2022

25,693

3,875

5,183

34,751

 

- 

The CET1 decrease is primarily due to the directed buyback of £1.2 billion, foreseeable dividend accrual of £2.3 billion, a £0.3 billion decrease in the IFRS 9 transitional adjustment, the removal of adjustment for prudential amortisation on software development costs of £0.4 billion, £0.3 billion due to FX loss on retranslation on the redemption of a USD instrument and other reserve movements in the period, partially offset by an attributable profit in the period of £1.9 billion.

- 

The AT1 and Tier 2 movements are due to the end of the 2021 transitional relief on grandfathered instruments. In Tier 2 there was also a £0.2 billion decrease in the Tier 2 surplus provisions.

 

 



 

 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Capital resources (reviewed)

NatWest Group's regulatory capital is assessed against minimum requirements that are set out under the UK Capital Requirements Regulation to determine the strength of its capital base. This note shows a reconciliation of shareholders' equity to regulatory capital.


PRA transitional basis


30 June

31 December


2022

2021


£m

£m

Shareholders' equity (excluding non-controlling interests)



Shareholders' equity

38,617

41,796

Preference shares - equity

-

(494)

Other equity instruments

(3,890)

(3,890)


34,727

37,412

Regulatory adjustments and deductions

 


Own credit

(99)

21

Defined benefit pension fund adjustment

(471)

(465)

Cash flow hedging reserve  

1,526

395

Deferred tax assets

(738)

(761)

Prudential valuation adjustments

(316)

(274)

Goodwill and other intangible assets

(6,869)

(6,312)

Foreseeable dividends and pension contributions

(2,250)

(1,211)

Foreseeable charges - on-market share buyback programme

(91)

(825)

Adjustment under IFRS 9 transitional arrangements  

284

621

Insufficient coverage for non-performing exposures

(10)

(5)


(9,034)

(8,816)


 


CET1 capital

25,693

28,596

Additional Tier (AT1) capital

 


Qualifying instruments and related share premium

3,875

3,875

Qualifying instruments and related share premium to phase out

-

571

AT1 capital

3,875

4,446

Tier 1 capital

29,568

33,042


 


Qualifying Tier 2 capital

 


Qualifying instruments and related share premium

4,848

4,935

Qualifying instruments issued by subsidiaries and held by third parties

73

314

Other regulatory adjustments

262

457

Tier 2 capital

5,183

5,706

Total regulatory capital

34,751

38,748



 

Risk and capital management 

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Loss absorbing capital

The following table illustrates the components of estimated loss absorbing capital (LAC) in NatWest Group plc and operating subsidiaries and includes external issuances only. The table is prepared on a transitional basis, including the benefit of regulatory capital instruments issued from operating companies, to the extent they meet the current MREL criteria.


30 June 2022

 

31 December 2021


 

Balance

 

 

 


Balance




Par

sheet

Regulatory

LAC

 

Par

sheet

Regulatory

LAC


  value (1)

value

value (2,5)

value (3)

 

value

value

value

value


£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

 

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

CET1 capital   (4)

25.7

25.7

25.7

25.7


28.6

28.6

28.6

28.6


 

 

 

 

 





Tier 1 capital: end-point CRR compliant AT1

 

 

 

 

 





  of which: NatWest Group plc (holdco)

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

 

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

  of which: NatWest Group plc operating  

 

 

 

 

 





  subsidiaries (opcos)

-

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

-


3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9

 

3.9

3.9

3.9

3.9


 

 

 

 

 





Tier 1 capital: end-point CRR non-compliant   (6)

 

 

 

 

 





  of which: holdco

-

-

-

-

 

0.6

0.6

0.5

0.5

  of which: opcos

0.1

0.1

-

-

 

0.1

0.1

-

-


0.1

0.1

-

-

 

0.7

0.7

0.5

0.5


 

 

 

 

 





Tier 2 capital: end-point CRR compliant

 

 

 

 

 





  of which: holdco

6.5

6.2

4.7

6.1

 

7.1

7.1

4.9

6.0

  of which: opcos

-

-

-

-

 

0.3

0.3

-

-


6.5

6.2

4.7

6.1

 

7.4

7.4

4.9

6.0


 

 

 

 

 





Tier 2 capital: end-point CRR non-compliant   (6)

 

 

 

 

 





  of which: holdco

1.1

1.1

0.1

-

 

-

-

-

-

  of which: opcos

0.6

0.8

0.1

-

 

0.6

0.9

0.3

0.1


1.7

1.9

0.2

-

 

0.6

0.9

0.3

0.1


 

 

 

 

 





Senior unsecured debt securities  

 

 

 

 

 





  of which: holdco

22.3

21.7

-

21.0

 

22.8

23.4

-

22.8

  of which: opcos

25.6

22.6

-

-


22.7

22.6

-

-


47.9

44.3

-

21.0


45.5

46.0

-

22.8


 

 

 

 

 





Tier 2 capital

 

 

 

 

 





  Other regulatory adjustments

-

-

0.3

0.3


-

-

0.5

0.5


-

-

0.3

0.3


-

-

0.5

0.5


 

 

 

 






Total

85.8

82.1

34.8

57.0


86.7

87.5

38.7

62.4


 

 

 

 






RWAs

 

 

 

179.8





157.0

UK leverage exposure

 

 

 

570.8





561.9


 

 

 

 






LAC as a ratio of RWAs

 

 

 

31.7%





39.8%

LAC as a ratio of UK leverage exposure

 

 

 

10.0%





11.1%

 

(1)  Par value reflects the nominal value of securities issued.

(2)  Regulatory capital instruments issued from operating companies are included in the transitional LAC calculation, to the extent they meet the current MREL criteria.

(3)  LAC value reflects NatWest Group's interpretation of the Bank of England's approach to setting a minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), published in December 2021 (updating June 2018). MREL policy and requirements remain subject to further potential development, as such NatWest Group's estimated position remains subject to potential change. Liabilities excluded from LAC include instruments with less than one year remaining to maturity, structured debt, operating company senior debt, and other instruments that do not meet the MREL criteria. The LAC calculation includes Tier 1 and Tier 2 securities before the application of any regulatory caps or adjustments.

(4)  Corresponding shareholders' equity was £38.6 billion (31 December 2021 - £41.8 billion).

(5)  Regulatory amounts reported for AT1, Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments incudes grandfathered instruments as per the transitional provisions allowed under CRR2 (until 28 June 2025).

(6)  (i) CRR1 non-compliant instruments (2021) - All Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments that were grandfathered under CRR1 compliance have lost their regulatory value and no longer form part of our regulatory capital resources from 1 January 2022. As at 31 December 2021, these are reported under the "Tier 1 capital: end-point CRR non-compliant" and  "Tier 2 capital: end-point CRR non-compliant" categories. 

(ii) CRR2 non-compliant instruments (2022) - From January 2022, All Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments that were grandfathered under CRR2 compliance (until 28 June 2025) are reported under "Tier 1 capital: end-point CRR non-compliant" and  "Tier 2 capital: end-point CRR non-compliant" category. 



 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Loss absorbing capital

The following table illustrates the components of the stock of outstanding issuance in NatWest Group plc and its operating subsidiaries including external and internal issuances.



 

NatWest

 

 

 

 

NatWest

NWM

RBS



NatWest

Holdings

NWB

RBS

UBI

NWM

Markets

Securities

International



Group plc

Limited

Plc

plc

DAC

Plc

N.V.

Inc.

Limited



£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

Tier 1 (Inclusive of AT1)

Externally issued

3.9

-

0.1

-

-

-

-

-

-

Tier 1 (Inclusive of AT1)

Internally issued

-

3.7

2.5

1.0

-

0.9

0.2

-

0.3



3.9

3.7

2.6

1.0

-

0.9

0.2

-

0.3

Tier 2

Externally issued

7.2

-

0.1

-

0.1

0.1

0.5

-

-

Tier 2

Internally issued

-

4.7

3.0

1.5

0.4

1.5

0.1

0.3

-



7.2

4.7

3.1

1.5

0.5

1.6

0.6

0.3

-

Senior unsecured

Externally issued

21.7

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Senior unsecured

Internally issued

-

11.8

6.5

0.4

0.5

3.1

-

-

-



21.7

11.8

6.5

0.4

0.5

3.1

-

-

-

Total outstanding issuance

32.8

20.2

12.2

2.9

1.0

5.6

0.8

0.3

0.3

 

(1)  The balances are the IFRS balance sheet carrying amounts, which may differ from the amount which the instrument contributes to regulatory capital. Regulatory balances exclude, for example, issuance costs and fair value movements, while dated capital is required to be amortised on a straight-line basis over the final five years of maturity.

(2)  Balance sheet amounts reported for AT1, Tier 1 and Tier 2 instruments are before grandfathering restrictions imposed by CRR.

(3)  Internal issuance for NWB Plc, RBS plc and UBIDAC represents AT1, Tier 2 or Senior unsecured issuance to NatWest Holdings Limited and for NWM N.V. and NWM SI to NWM Plc.

(4)  Senior unsecured debt does not include CP, CD and short/medium term notes issued from NatWest Group operating subsidiaries. 

(5)  Tier 1 (inclusive of AT1) does not include CET1 numbers.

 



 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Risk-weighted assets

The table below analyses the movement in RWAs during the half year, by key drivers.


 

Counterparty

 

Operational

 


Credit risk

credit risk

Market risk

risk

Total  


£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

At 31 December 2021

120.2

7.9

7.9

21.0

157.0

Foreign exchange movement

1.2

-

-

-

1.2

Business movement

3.7

-

1.0

(1.9)

2.8

Risk parameter changes

(2.8)

-

-

-

(2.8)

Methodology changes

0.2

0.4

-

-

0.6

Model updates

21.4

-

(0.3)

-

21.1

Acquisitions and disposals  

(0.1)

-

-

-

(0.1)

At 30 June 2022

143.8

8.3

8.6

19.1

179.8

 

The table below analyses segmental RWAs.


Go-forward group

 

 


 

 

 

 

Total excluding  

 

Total  


Retail

Private

Commercial &

Central items  

Ulster Bank

Ulster

NatWest


Banking

Banking

Institutional  

& other

ROI

Bank RoI

Group

Total RWAs

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

At 31 December 2021

36.7

11.3

98.1

1.8

147.9

9.1

157.0

Foreign exchange movement

-

-

1.0

-

1.0

0.2

1.2

Business movement

2.4

-

1.2

(0.1)

3.5

(0.7)

2.8

Risk parameter changes  

(1.4)

-

(1.4)

-

(2.8)

-

(2.8)

Methodology changes

-

-

0.4

-

0.4

0.2

0.6

Model updates

15.3

-

3.7

-

19.0

2.1

21.1

Acquisitions and disposals

-

-

-

-

-

(0.1)

(0.1)

At 30 June 2022

53.0

11.3

103.0

1.7

169.0

10.8

179.8


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credit risk

46.0

10.0

76.3

1.6

133.9

9.9

143.8

Counterparty credit risk

0.2

0.1

8.0

-

8.3

-

8.3

Market risk

0.1

-

8.5

-

8.6

-

8.6

Operational risk

6.7

1.2

10.2

0.1

18.2

0.9

19.1

Total RWAs

53.0

11.3

103.0

1.7

169.0

10.8

179.8

 

Total RWAs increased by £22.8 billion to £179.8 billion during the period mainly reflecting:

-  Model updates totalling £21.1 billion primarily due to model adjustments applied as a result of new regulation applicable to IRB models from 1 January 2022 within Retail Banking, Commercial & Institutional and Ulster Bank ROI.

-  Business movements totalling £2.8 billion driven by increased credit risk exposures within Retail Banking and Commercial & Institutional, partially offset by a reduction in credit risk exposures within Ulster Bank ROI.

-  There was a partially offsetting decrease of approximately £2.8 billion RWAs due to improved risk metrics within Commercial & Institutional and Retail Banking.

 

 



 

 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Funding sources (reviewed)

The table below shows the carrying values of the principal funding sources based on contractual maturity. Balance sheet captions include balances held at all classifications under IFRS 9.


30 June 2022

 

31 December 2021


Short-term

Long-term

 

 

Short-term

Long-term



less than

more than

 

 

less than

more than



1 year

1 year

Total

 

1 year

1 year

Total


£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Bank deposits








Repos

4,720

-

4,720

 

7,912

-

7,912

Other bank deposits   (1)

7,588

12,554

20,142

 

5,803

12,564

18,367


12,308

12,554

24,862

 

13,715

12,564

26,279

Customer deposits

 

 

 

 




Repos

19,195

-

19,195

 

14,541

-

14,541

Non-bank financial institutions

62,291

525

62,816

 

57,885

67

57,952

Personal

232,686

714

233,400

 

230,525

829

231,354

Corporate

176,331

333

176,664

 

175,850

113

175,963


490,503

1,572

492,075

 

478,801

1,009

479,810

Trading liabilities   (2)

 

 

 

 




Repos   (3)

29,406

-

29,406

 

19,389

-

19,389

Derivative collateral

18,276

-

18,276

 

17,718

-

17,718

Other bank customer deposits

442

657

1,099

 

849

704

1,553

Debt securities in issue - Medium term notes

60

743

803

 

178

796

974


48,184

1,400

49,584

 

38,134

1,500

39,634

Other financial liabilities

 

 

 

 




Customer deposits

542

-

542

 

568

-

568

Debt securities in issue:

 

 

 

 




  Commercial papers and certificates of deposit

6,214

127

6,341

 

9,038

115

9,153

  Medium term notes

7,007

30,173

37,180

 

6,401

29,451

35,852

  Covered bonds

775

2,044

2,819

 

53

2,833

2,886

  Securitisation

-

862

862

 

-

867

867


14,538

33,206

47,744

 

16,060

33,266

49,326

Subordinated liabilities

1,804

6,306

8,110

 

1,375

7,054

8,429

Total funding

567,337

55,038

622,375

 

548,085

55,393

603,478

Of which: available in resolution   (4)

 

 

26,173


 

 

29,624

 

(1)  Includes £12.0 billion (31 December 2021 - £12.0 billion) relating to Term Funding Scheme with additional incentives for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises participation.

(2)  Excludes short positions of £24.8 billion (31 December 2021 - £25.0 billion).

(3)  Comprises central & other bank repos of £3.1 billion (31 December 2021 - £0.8 billion), other financial institution repos of £23.4 billion (31 December 2021 - £17.0 billion) and other corporate repos of £2.9 billion (31 December 2021 - £1.6 billion).

(4)  Eligible liabilities (as defined in the Banking Act 2009 as amended from time to time) that meet the eligibility criteria set out in the regulations, rules, policies, guidelines, or statements of the Bank of England including the Statement of Policy published by the Bank of England in December 2021 (updating June 2018). The balance consists of £20.4 billion (31 December 2021 - £23.4 billion) under debt securities in issue (senior MREL) and £5.8 billion (31 December 2021 - £6.2 billion) under subordinated liabilities.



 

Risk and capital management

Capital, liquidity and funding risk continued

Liquidity portfolio (reviewed)

The table below shows the liquidity portfolio by product, with primary liquidity aligned to internal stressed outflow coverage and regulatory LCR categorisation. Secondary liquidity comprises assets eligible for discount at central banks, which do not form part of the liquid asset portfolio for LCR or internal stressed outflow purposes.


Liquidity value


30 June 2022

 

31 December 2021


NatWest

NWH

UK DoL

 

NatWest

NWH

UK DoL


Group   (1)

Group   (2)

Sub   (3)

 

Group  

Group  

Sub  


£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Cash and balances at central banks

176,976

143,463

139,230


174,328

140,562

136,154

AAA to AA- rated governments

18,458

8,656

7,998


31,073

21,710

21,123

A+ and lower rated governments

3

-

-


25

-

-

Government guaranteed issuers, public sector entities  

 

 

 


 



  and government sponsored entities

236

222

102


307

295

174

International organisations and multilateral

 

 

 





  development banks

2,589

1,849

1,574


2,720

1,807

1,466

LCR level 1 bonds

21,286

10,727

9,674

 

34,125

23,812

22,763

LCR level 1 assets

198,262

154,190

148,904

 

208,453

164,374

158,917

LCR level 2 assets

-

-

-

 

117

-

-

Non-LCR eligible assets

-

-

-

 

-

-

-

Primary liquidity  

198,262

154,190

148,904

 

208,570

164,374

158,917

Secondary liquidity   (4)

70,186

70,046

69,980

 

77,849

77,660

76,573

Total liquidity value

268,448

224,236

218,884


286,419

242,034

235,490

 

(1)

NatWest Group includes the UK Domestic Liquidity Sub-Group (UK DoLSub), NatWest Markets Plc and other significant operating subsidiaries that hold liquidity portfolios. These include The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited, NWM N.V. and Ulster Bank Ireland DAC who hold managed portfolios that comply with local regulations that may differ from PRA rules.

(2)

NWH Group comprises UK DoLSub & Ulster Bank Ireland DAC who hold managed portfolios that comply with local regulations that may differ from PRA rules.

(3)

UK DoLSub comprises NatWest Group's three licensed deposit-taking UK banks within the ring-fenced bank: NWB Plc, RBS plc and Coutts & Company. Ulster Bank Limited was previously a member of the UK DoLSub and was removed from the UK DoLSub effective 1 January 2022.

(4)

Comprises assets eligible for discounting at the Bank of England and other central banks.

(5)

NatWest Markets Plc liquidity portfolio is reported in the NatWest Markets Plc Company Announcement.



 

 

 

 

 

Risk and capital management

Non-traded market risk

Non-traded market risk is the risk to the value of assets or liabilities outside the trading book, or the risk to income, that arises from changes in market prices such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices, or from changes in managed rates.

Key developments


- 

In the UK, the base rate has risen from 0.25% at 31 December 2021 to 1.25% at 30 June 2022. Market concerns increasingly centred on the speed and extent to which central banks will raise their policy rates and use other monetary policy tightening measures to manage inflation.

- 

The five-year sterling swap rate increased to 2.48% at the end of June 2022 from 1.05% at the end of December 2021. The ten-year sterling swap rate also increased, to 2.33% from 0.95%.


- 

The structural hedge notional increased by £24 billion from £206 billion to £230 billion, mainly due to increased hedging of higher deposit volumes realised through the pandemic. The structural hedge yield rose over the same period to 0.78% from 0.71% as new hedges were booked at current market rates and maturing hedges were replaced.

- 

Sterling weakened against both the US dollar and the euro over the period. Against the dollar, sterling was 1.21 at 30 June 2022 compared to 1.35 at 31 December 2021. Against the euro, it was 1.16 at 30 June 2022 compared to 1.19 at 31 December 2021. Structural foreign currency exposure decreased, in sterling equivalent terms, by £267 million over the period, mainly due to increased hedging of euro exposure.

 

Non-traded internal VaR (1-day 99%) (reviewed)

The following table shows one-day internal banking book Value-at-Risk (VaR) at a 99% confidence level, split by risk type.


Half year ended


30 June 2022

30 June 2021

31 December 2021


 

 

 

Period




Period




Period


Average

Maximum

Minimum

end

Average

Maximum

Minimum

end

Average

Maximum

Minimum

end


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Interest rate

17.0

37.8

7.6

37.8

11.7

13.0

9.2

12.8

8.4

9.5

6.4

8.6

Credit spread

48.8

86.6

33.4

34.6

103.6

113.5

99.6

99.6

100.9

108.5

92.4

100.9

Structural foreign  

 

 

 

 









  exchange rate

8.8

10.9

5.4

7.0

11.0

12.8

9.2

12.8

11.9

13.2

10.3

12.0

Equity

18.9

22.2

13.7

18.8

11.3

11.7

11.1

11.7

13.6

14.6

11.6

14.3

Pipeline risk   (1)

1.0

2.9

0.3

2.9

0.3

0.4

0.3

0.4

0.7

1.2

0.5

1.2

Diversification   (2)

(33.4)

 

 

(48.1)

(3.4)



(8.5)

(20.9)



(35.6)

Total

61.1

91.2

52.3

53.0

134.5

147.1

128.8

128.8

114.6

128.3

101.4

101.4

 

(1)

Pipeline risk is the risk of loss arising from Personal customers owning an option to draw down a loan - typically a mortgage - at a committed rate, where interest rate changes may result in greater or fewer customers than anticipated taking up the committed offer.

(2)

NatWest Group benefits from diversification across various financial instrument types, currencies and markets. The extent of the diversification benefit depends on the correlation between the assets and risk factors in the portfolio at a particular time. The diversification factor is the sum of the VaR on individual risk types less the total portfolio VaR.

 

-  Credit spread VaR decreased in H1 2022 reflecting bond disposals in the period. In addition, the heightened market volatility in March 2020, resulting from the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, dropped out of the rolling window for VaR calculation during H1 2022.

-  The credit spread VaR decrease was the main driver of the reduction in total non-traded VaR.

-  Interest rate VaR rose on an average basis, reflecting an increase in hedging undertaken to reduce the sensitivity of interest income to downward interest rate shocks.

-  The increase in equity VaR reflects the agreement to invest in Permanent TSB as part of the UBIDAC withdrawal strategy.


Risk and capital management

Non-traded market risk continued

Structural hedging

NatWest Group has a significant pool of stable, non and low interest-bearing liabilities, principally comprising equity and money transmission accounts. These balances are usually hedged, either by investing directly in longer-term fixed-rate assets (such as fixed-rate mortgages or UK government gilts) or by using interest rate swaps, which are generally booked as cash flow hedges of floating-rate assets, in order to provide a consistent and predictable revenue stream.

After hedging the net interest rate exposure externally, NatWest Group allocates income to equity or products in structural hedges by reference to the relevant interest rate swap curve. Over time, this approach has provided a basis for stable income attribution to products and interest rate returns. The programme aims to track a time series of medium-term swap rates, but the yield will be affected by changes in product volumes and NatWest Group's capital composition.

The table below shows the total income and total yield, incremental income relative to short-term cash rates, and the period-end and average notional balances allocated to equity and products in respect of the structural hedges managed by NatWest Group.


Half year ended


30 June 2022

 

30 June 2021


31 December 2021


 

 

Period

 

 

 



Period






Period




Incremental

Total

-end

Average

Total

 

Incremental

Total

-end

Average

Total


Incremental

Total

-end

Average

Total


income

income

notional

notional

yield

 

income

income

notional

notional

yield


income

income

notional

notional

yield


£m

£m

£bn

£bn

%

 

£m

£m

£bn

£bn

%


£m

£m

£bn

£bn

%

Equity  

111

178

20

20

1.77


235

244

23

23

2.13


190

204

21

21

1.96

Product

42

585

182

168

0.70

 

360

412

146

135

0.61


383

450

161

155

0.58

Other

29

76

28

27

0.57

 

74

62

21

22

0.56


65

52

24

23

0.45

Total

182

839

230

215

0.78


669

718

190

180

0.80


638

706

206

199

0.71

 

(1)  Incremental income represents the difference between total income (i.e. hedged income) and an unhedged return that is based on short-term cash rates. For example, the sterling overnight index average (SONIA) is used to estimate incremental income from sterling structural hedges.

 

Equity structural hedges refer to income allocated primarily to equity and reserves. At 30 June 2022, the equity structural hedge notional was allocated between NWH Group and NWM Plc in a ratio of approximately 83%/17% respectively.

Product structural hedges refer to income allocated to customer products by NWH Group Treasury, mainly current accounts and customer deposits in Commercial & Institutional and Retail Banking. Other structural hedges refer to hedges managed by UBIDAC, Coutts & Co and RBS International legal entities.

At 30 June 2022, approximately 93% by notional of total structural hedges were sterling-denominated.

The following table presents the incremental income associated with product structural hedges at segment level.


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

31 December


2022

2021

2021


£m

£m

£m

Retail Banking

12

168

178

Commercial & Institutional  

30

192

206

Total

42

360

384





-  The increase in the structural hedge notional mainly resulted from hedging of Retail and Commercial deposits.

-  The five-year sterling swap rate rose to 2.48% at 30 June 2022 from 1.05% at 31 December 2021. The ten-year sterling swap rate also rose, to 2.33% from 0.95%. Higher swap rates resulted in the total yield of the structural hedge rising to 0.78% from 0.71% in H1 2022.

-  Despite the increase in total yield, incremental income fell. This reflects the relative stability of the total yield of the structural hedge compared to an unhedged portfolio earning short-term cash rates. Compared to the 7-basis-point increase in the structural hedge total yield, SONIA increased 100 basis points to 1.19% at 30 June 2022 from 0.19% at 31 December 2021. 

 



 

Risk and capital management

Non-traded market risk continued

Sensitivity of net interest earnings

Net interest earnings are sensitive to changes in the level of interest rates, mainly because maturing structural hedges are replaced at higher or lower rates and changes to coupons on managed rate customer products do not always match changes in market rates of interest or central bank policy rates.

Earnings sensitivity is derived from a market-implied forward rate curve, which will incorporate expected changes in central bank policy rates such as the Bank of England base rate. A simple scenario is shown that projects forward earnings based on the 30 June 2022 balance sheet, which is assumed to remain constant. An earnings projection is derived from the market-implied curve, which is then subject to interest rate shocks. The difference between the market-implied projection and the shock gives an indication of underlying sensitivity to interest rate movements.

Reported sensitivities should not be considered a forecast of future performance in these rate scenarios. Actions that could reduce interest earnings sensitivity include changes in pricing strategies on customer loans and deposits as well as hedging. Management action may also be taken to stabilise total income also taking into account non-interest income.

Three-year 25 basis point sensitivity table

The table below shows the sensitivity of net interest earnings - for both structural hedges and managed rate accounts - on a one, two and three-year forward-looking basis to an upward or downward interest rate shift of 25 basis points.

In the upward rate scenarios, yield curves were assumed to move in parallel. The downward rate scenarios allow interest rates to fall to negative rates. At 30 June 2022, negative rates affected only euro earnings sensitivity.


+25 basis points upward shift

 

-25 basis points downward shift


Year 1  

Year 2 (1)

Year 3 (1)

 

Year 1  

Year 2 (1)

Year 3 (1)

30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Structural hedges

45

150

253

 

(45)

(150)

(253)

Managed margin

231

227

223

 

(219)

(205)

(227)

Total

276

377

476

 

(264)

(355)

(480)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Structural hedges

40

132

224


(40)

(132)

(224)

Managed margin

269

203

239


(245)

(199)

(177)

Total

309

335

463


(285)

(331)

(401)









(1)  Earnings sensitivity considers only the main drivers, namely structural hedging and margin management.

(2)  Following a change in the basis of preparation of this table, it now excludes UBIDAC. Including UBIDAC would increase Year 1 sensitivity by 4-5%.

 

The following table analyses the one-year scenarios by currency and, in addition, shows the impact over one year of a 100-basis-point upward shift in all interest rates.


Shifts in yield curve


30 June 2022

 

31 December 2021


+25 basis  

-25 basis  

+100 basis

 

+25 basis  

-25 basis  

+100 basis


points

points

points

 

points

points

points

 

£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Euro

7

6

47


7

15

64

Sterling

255

(253)

980


260

(265)

950

US dollar

13

(16)

56


40

(33)

143

Other

1

(1)

6


2

(2)

11

Total

276

(264)

1,089


309

(285)

1,168

 

(1)  Following a change in the basis of preparation of this table, it now excludes UBIDAC.



 

Risk and capital management

Non-traded market risk continued

Foreign exchange risk (reviewed)

The table below shows structural foreign currency exposures.


 

 

Structural

 

 


Net

 

foreign currency

 

Residual


investments

Net

exposures

 

structural


in foreign

investment

pre-economic

Economic

foreign currency


operations

hedges

hedges

hedges (1)

exposures

30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

US dollar

1,332

(206)

1,126

(1,126)

-

Euro

7,051

(3,898)

3,153

-

3,153

Other non-sterling

1,011

(420)

591

-

591

Total

9,394

(4,524)

4,870

(1,126)

3,744


 

 

 

 

 

31 December 2021

 

 

 

 

 

US dollar

1,275

(260)

1,015

(1,015)

-

Euro

6,222

(2,669)

3,553

-

3,553

Other non-sterling

990

(421)

569

-

569

Total

8,487

(3,350)

5,137

(1,015)

4,122

 

(1)  Economic hedges of US dollar net investments in foreign operations represent US dollar equity securities that do not qualify as net investment hedges for accounting purposes. They provide an offset to structural foreign exchange exposures to the extent that there are net assets in overseas operations available.

 

- 

The increase in net investments in foreign operations resulted from increased investment in European operations. Sterling weakening against other currencies over the period also contributed to the increase.

- 

The increase in net investment hedges notably reflected increased hedging of European operations as well as the sterling weakening.

- 

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect equity in proportion to structural foreign currency exposure. For example, a 5% strengthening or weakening in foreign currencies against sterling would result in a gain or loss of £0.2 billion in equity respectively.

 

 



 

Risk and capital management

Traded market risk

Traded market risk is the risk arising from changes in fair value on positions, assets, liabilities or commitments in trading portfolios as a result of fluctuations in market prices.

Traded VaR (1-day 99%) (reviewed)

The table below shows one-day internal value-at-risk (VaR) for NatWest Group's trading portfolios, split by exposure type.


Half year ended


30 June 2022

 

30 June 2021


31 December 2021


 

 

 

Period

 




Period





Period


Average

Maximum

Minimum

end

 

Average

Maximum

Minimum

end


Average

Maximum

Minimum

end


£m

£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

£m


£m

£m

£m

£m

Interest rate

7.4

12.6

4.1

6.0


11.3

19.0

4.5

17.4


9.6

25.3

4.7

8.9

Credit spread

8.5

12.0

6.5

6.9

 

11.0

13.4

9.4

11.2


11.6

13.2

10.0

10.7

Currency

2.8

8.0

1.2

2.3

 

3.9

9.4

2.0

2.4


3.0

8.6

1.7

2.2

Equity

0.1

0.3

-

-

 

0.5

0.8

0.2

0.2


0.2

0.5

-

0.2

Commodity

-

-

-

-

 

0.2

0.5

-

-


-

0.1

-

-

Diversification   (1)

(8.3)

 

 

(6.0)

 

(13.5)



(15.5)


(11.1)



(10.5)

Total

10.5

15.1

7.2

9.2


13.4

23.9

9.5

15.7


13.3

21.1

9.3

11.5

 

(1)

NatWest Group benefits from diversification across various financial instrument types, currencies and markets. The extent of the diversification benefit depends on the correlation between the assets and risk factors in the portfolio at a particular time. The diversification factor is the sum of the VaR on individual risk types less the total portfolio VaR.

 

-

The decrease in average interest rate VaR, compared to both H1 2021 and H2 2021, reflected a reduction in tenor basis risk in sterling flow trading. This followed a regulator-approved update to the VaR model, which was applied in Q3 2021 to address the impact of the transition from LIBOR to alternative risk-free rates.

-

Average credit spread VaR also declined because the heightened market volatility in March 2020, resulting from the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, dropped out of the rolling window for VaR calculation during H1 2022.



 

 

Risk and capital management

Other risks

Operational risk

Risk management continued to focus on delivering strong operational resilience and a robust supply chain, with particular emphasis on internal change programmes aimed at enhancing customer experience, ensuring NatWest Group's operations and external suppliers continue to be resilient against disruption and developing technology solutions to mitigate operational risks.

The security threat and the potential for cyber-attacks on NatWest Group and its supply chain continued to be closely monitored and timely remediation of any identified control gaps. NatWest Group continued to focus heavily on its defences during the reporting period as well as on the security of its supply chain.

 

Conduct & compliance risk

The impact of the cost of living challenge remained a key priority for the conduct and regulatory compliance agenda. NatWest Group continues to review forbearance and treatment for customers, recognising differing needs and support required where appropriate to provide good outcomes for all.

There was continued oversight of delivery of the mandatory and regulatory change programmes, with a particular focus on the impact of proposed regulation to enhance customer care.

In addition, there was a sustained emphasis on compliance with the UK's ring-fencing legislation as NatWest Group continued to review and update organisational designs to best serve its customers.

 

Climate risk

NatWest Group continued to embed climate considerations within its risk management framework throughout the reporting period, with work focused on making iterative advancements in capabilities towards quantitative techniques in risk assessment .

Particular attention continues to be paid to developing a NatWest Group transition plan for which the identification, assessment and management of transition risk is a critical component.

NatWest Group has also continued to develop its data, modelling and scenario analysis capabilities to support the assessment of customers' physical and transition risks.

The Bank of England's findings following its Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario - in which NatWest Group participated - were released to the industry in Q2 2022. These provided helpful insights for the continued maturing of NatWest Group's climate risk activity for H2 2022 and beyond; NatWest Group will seek alignment with the 'observed examples of good practice' published by the Bank of England as appropriate.

 







 

 

 


 

 

Condensed consolidated income statement for the period ended 30 June 2022 (unaudited)


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021


£m

£m

Interest receivable

5,250

4,610

Interest payable

(916)

(866)

Net interest income  

4,334

3,744

Fees and commissions receivable

1,424

1,304

Fees and commissions payable

(300)

(285)

Income from trading activities

709

231

Other operating income  

52

147

Non-interest income

1,885

1,397

Total income

6,219

5,141

Staff costs

(1,808)

(1,880)

Premises and equipment

(534)

(502)

Other administrative expenses

(898)

(703)

Depreciation and amortisation  

(413)

(414)

Operating expenses

(3,653)

(3,499)

Profit before impairment releases

2,566

1,642

Impairment releases

54

683

Operating profit before tax

2,620

2,325

Tax charge

(795)

(432)

Profit from continuing operations  

1,825

1,893

Profit from discontinued operations, net of tax  

190

177

Profit for the period

2,015

2,070

Attributable to:

 


Ordinary shareholders

1,891

1,842

Preference shareholders

-

9

Paid-in equity holders

121

178

Non-controlling interests

3

41


2,015

2,070


 


Earnings per ordinary share - continuing operations

15.7p

14.1p

Earnings per ordinary share - discontinued operations

1.7p

1.5p

Total earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders - basic

17.4p

15.6p

Earnings per ordinary share - fully diluted continuing operations

15.6p

14.0p

Earnings per ordinary share - fully diluted discontinued operations

1.7p

1.5p

Total earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders - fully diluted

17.3p

15.5p

 



 

Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the period ended 30 June 2022 (unaudited)

 


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021


£m

£m

Profit for the period

2,015

2,070

Items that do not qualify for reclassification

 


Remeasurement of retirement benefit schemes   (1)

(517)

(734)

Changes in fair value of credit in financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss  

 


  (FVTPL) due to own credit risk

91

(25)

Fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) financial assets

3

8

Tax

123

182


(300)

(569)

Items that do qualify for reclassification

 


FVOCI financial assets

(458)

(145)

Cash flow hedges

(1,557)

(365)

Currency translation

185

(288)

Tax

566

65


(1,264)

(733)

Other comprehensive losses after tax

(1,564)

(1,302)

Total comprehensive income for the period

451

768

 

 


Attributable to:

 


Ordinary shareholders

327

535

Preference shareholders

-

9

Paid-in equity holders

121

178

Non-controlling interests

3

46


451

768

 

 

(1)  Following the purchase of ordinary shares from UKGI in March 2021, NatWest Group contributed £500 million to its main pension scheme in line with the memorandum of understanding announced on 17 April 2018. After tax relief, this contribution reduced total equity by £365 million. In line with our policy, the present value of defined benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets at the end of the interim reporting period are assessed to identity significant market fluctuations and one-off events since the end of the prior financial year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June 2022 (unaudited)


30 June

31 December

2022

2021


£m

£m  

Assets

 


Cash and balances at central banks

179,525

177,757

Trading assets

65,604

59,158

Derivatives

109,342

106,139

Settlement balances

10,294

2,141

Loans to banks - amortised cost

10,668

7,682

Loans to customers - amortised cost

362,551

358,990

Other financial assets

38,896

46,145

Intangible assets

6,869

6,723

Other assets

8,542

8,242

Assets of disposal groups

14,187

9,015

Total assets

806,478

781,992

Liabilities

 


Bank deposits  

24,862

26,279

Customer deposits

492,075

479,810

Settlement balances

9,779

2,068

Trading liabilities

74,345

64,598

Derivatives

102,719

100,835

Other financial liabilities

47,744

49,326

Subordinated liabilities

8,110

8,429

Notes in circulation

2,947

3,047

Other liabilities

5,270

5,797

Total liabilities

767,851

740,189

Equity

 


Ordinary shareholders' interests

34,727

37,412

Other owners' interests

3,890

4,384

Owners' equity

38,617

41,796

Non-controlling interests

10

7

Total equity

38,627

41,803

Total liabilities and equity

806,478

781,992


 

 

 

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity for the period ended 30 June 2022 (unaudited)

 


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021


£m

£m

Called-up share capital - at beginning of period

11,468

12,129

Ordinary shares issued

-

38

Share cancellation   (1,4)

(885)

(391)

At end of period

10,583

11,776

Paid-in equity - at beginning of period

3,890

4,999

Securities issued during the period   (2)

-

937

At end of period

3,890

5,936

Share premium account - at beginning of period

1,161

1,111

Ordinary shares issued

-

50

At end of period

1,161

1,161

Merger reserve - at beginning and end of period

10,881

10,881

FVOCI reserve - at beginning of period

269

360

Unrealised losses

(444)

(113)

Realised gains

(17)

(23)

Tax

125

15

At end of period

(67)

239

Cash flow hedging reserve - at beginning of period

(395)

229

Amount recognised in equity

(1,386)

(323)

Amount transferred from equity to earnings

(171)

(42)

Tax

426

59

At end of period

(1,526)

(77)

Foreign exchange reserve - at beginning of period

1,205

1,608

Retranslation of net assets

307

(336)

Foreign currency (losses)/gains on hedges of net assets

(122)

43

Tax

14

(11)

At end of period

1,404

1,304

Capital redemption reserve - at beginning of period

722

-

Share cancellation   (1,4)

885

390

Redemption of preference shares

-

24

At end of period

1,607

414

Retained earnings - at beginning of period

12,966

12,567

Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders and other equity owners

 


  - continuing

1,822

1,855

  - discontinued

190

174

Equity preference dividends paid

-

(9)

Paid-in equity dividends paid

(121)

(178)

Ordinary dividends paid

(841)

(347)

Shares repurchased during the year   (1,4)

(1,958)

(748)

Redemption of preference shares   (5)

(750)

(24)

Tax on redemption/reclassification of paid-in equity  

(21)

-

Realised losses/(gains) in period on FVOCI equity shares

6

(1)

Remeasurement of the retirement benefit schemes   (3)

 


  - gross

(517)

(734)

  - tax

133

182

Changes in fair value of credit in financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss

 


  - gross

91

(25)

  - tax

(9)

2

Shares issued under employee share schemes

5

-

Share-based payments

(33)

(82)

At end of period

10,963

12,632

 



 

Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity for the period ended 30 June 2022 continued (unaudited)

 


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021


£m

£m

Own shares held - at beginning of period

(371)

(24)

Shares issued under employee share schemes

92

17

Own shares acquired  

-

(384)

At end of period

(279)

(391)

Owners' equity at end of period

38,617

43,875

Non-controlling interests - at beginning of period

7

(36)

Currency translation adjustments and other movements

-

5

Profit attributable to non-controlling interests

3

41

At end of period

10

10

Total equity at end of period

38,627

43,885

Attributable to:

 


Ordinary shareholders

34,727

37,445

Preference shareholders

-

494

Paid-in equity holders

3,890

5,936

Non-controlling interests

10

10


38,627

43,885




 

(1)  In March 2022, there was an agreement with HM Treasury to buy 549.9 million ordinary shares in the Company from UK Government Investments Ltd (UKGI), at 220.5p per share for the total consideration of £1.22 billion. NatWest Group cancelled 549.9 million of the purchased ordinary shares. The nominal value of the share cancellation has been transferred to the capital redemption reserve.

(2)  In June 2021, AT1 capital notes totalling US$750 million less fees were issued.

(3)  Following the purchase of ordinary shares from UKGI in Q1 2022, NatWest Group contributed £500 million (2021 - £500 million) to its main pension scheme in line with the memorandum of understanding announced on 17 April 2018. After tax relief, this contribution reduced total equity by £365 million (2021 - £354 million). In line with our policy, the present value of defined benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets at the end of the interim reporting period, are assessed to identity significant market fluctuations and one-off events since the end of the prior financial year.

(4)  NatWest Group plc repurchased and cancelled 345.6 million shares for total consideration of £756.7 million excluding fees in H1 2022, as part of the On Market Share Buyback Programme. Of the 345.6 million shares bought back, 10.7 million shares were settled and cancelled in July 2022. The nominal value of the share cancellations has been transferred to the capital redemption reserve.

(5)  Following an announcement of a Regulatory Call in February 2022, the Series U preference shares were reclassified to liabilities. A £254 million loss was recognised in P&L reserves due to FX unlocking.

 



 

Condensed consolidated cash flow statement for the period ended 30 June 2022 (unaudited)


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021


£m

£m

Operating activities

 


Operating profit before tax from continuing operations  

2,620

2,325

Operating profit before tax from discontinued operations  

190

180

Adjustments for non-cash items  

355

2,635

Net cash flows from trading activities

3,165

5,140

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

7,966

25,745

Net cash flows from operating activities before tax

11,131

30,885

Income taxes paid

(575)

(259)

Net cash flows from operating activities

10,556

30,626

Net cash flows from investing activities

5,713

(790)

Net cash flows from financing activities

(6,970)

(359)

Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

2,224

(1,935)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

11,523

27,542

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

190,706

139,199

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

202,229

166,741

 

 

Notes

1. Presentation of condensed consolidated financial statements

The condensed consolidated financial statements are set out on pages 80 to 104 and the reviewed sections of Risk and capital management on pages 19 to 79. The directors have prepared these on a going concern basis after assessing the principal risks, forecasts, projections and other relevant evidence over the twelve months from the date they are approved and in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting', as adopted by the UK and as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the UK's Financial Conduct Authority. They should be read in conjunction with NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

Comparative period results have been re-presented from those previously published to reclassify certain items as discontinued operations. For further details refer to Note 8 on page 90.

2. Accounting policies

NatWest Group's principal accounting policies are as set out on pages 307 to 312 of NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts. Amendments to IFRS effective from 1 January 2022 had no material effect on the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Critical accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The judgments and assumptions that are considered to be the most important to the portrayal of NatWest Group's financial condition are those relating to deferred tax, fair value of financial instruments, loan impairment provisions, goodwill and provisions for liabilities and charges. These critical accounting policies and judgments are noted on page 311 of NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts. Management's consideration of uncertainty is outlined in the relevant sections of NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts, including the ECL estimate for the period in the Risk and capital management section contained in NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

Information used for significant estimates

Key financial estimates are based on management's latest five-year revenue and cost forecasts. Measurement of goodwill, deferred tax and expected credit losses are highly sensitive to reasonably possible changes in those anticipated conditions. Changes in judgments and assumptions could result in a material adjustment to those estimates in future reporting periods. (Refer to the Summary Risk Factors on page 106 which should be read in conjunction with the Risk factors included in NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts).


Notes

3. Net interest income

 


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021

Continuing operations

£m

£m

Loans to customers - amortised cost

4,483

4,261

Loans to banks - amortised cost

582

217

Other financial assets

185

132

Interest receivable  

5,250

4,610

 

 


Deposits by banks

157

99

Customer deposits

179

319

Other financial liabilities

433

314

Subordinated liabilities

141

130

Internal funding of trading businesses

6

4

Interest payable  

916

866

Net interest income

4,334

3,744

 

4. Non-interest income

 

 

Half year ended

 

30 June

30 June

 

2022

2021

Continuing operations

£m

£m

Net fees and commissions   (1)

1,124

1,019


 


Foreign exchange

258

183

Interest rate

416

(6)

Credit

33

54

Equity, commodities and other

2

-

Income from trading activities

709

231

 

 


Loss on redemption of own debt

(24)

(138)

Operating lease and other rental income

114

108

Changes in fair value of financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss   (2)

21

(4)

Hedge ineffectiveness

(22)

13

Loss on disposal of amortised cost assets

(16)

(6)

Profit on disposal of fair value through other comprehensive income assets

10

24

Share of profit of associated entities

(20)

129

Other income   (3)

(11)

21

Other operating income

52

147

Non-interest income

1,885

1,397

 

(1)  Refer to Note 6 for further analysis.

(2)  Includes related derivatives.

(3)  Includes income from activities other than banking.

 

5. Operating expenses

 

 

Half year ended

 

30 June

30 June

 

2022

2021

Continuing operations

£m

£m

 

 


Salaries

1,103

1,172

Bonus awards

195

142

Temporary and contract costs

116

114

Social security costs

163

150

Pension costs

184

177

  - defined benefit schemes

108

110

  - defined contribution schemes

76

67

Other

47

125

Staff costs

1,808

1,880

Premises and equipment

534

502

Depreciation and amortisation

413

414

Other administrative expenses

898

703

Administrative expenses

1,845

1,619

Operating expenses

3,653

3,499




Notes

6. Segmental analysis

On 27 January 2022, NatWest Group announced that a new franchise, Commercial & Institutional, would be created, bringing together the Commercial, NatWest Markets and RBSI businesses to form a single franchise, with common management and objectives, to best support our customers across the full non-personal customer lifecycle. Comparatives have been re-presented. The re-presentation of operating segments does not change the consolidated financial results of NatWest Group.

 

The business is organised into the following reportable segments: Retail Banking, Private Banking, Commercial & Institutional, Central items & other and Ulster Bank RoI.

Analysis of operating profit/(loss) before tax

The following tables provide a segmental analysis of operating profit/(loss) before tax by the main income statement captions.


Go-forward group

 



 

 

 

 

Total  

 



 

 

 

Central

excluding

Ulster



Retail

Private

Commercial &

  items &

Ulster

Bank



Banking

Banking

Institutional

other

Bank RoI

RoI

Total

Half year ended 30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

2,340

315

1,764

(91)

4,328

6

4,334

Net fees and commissions

219

131

753

7

1,110

14

1,124

Other non-interest income

(5)

15

420

318

748

13

761

Total income

2,554

461

2,937

234

6,186

33

6,219

Depreciation and amortisation

-

-

(82)

(331)

(413)

-

(413)

Other operating expenses

(1,242)

(285)

(1,738)

279

(2,986)

(254)

(3,240)

Impairment (losses)/releases

(26)

11

59

2

46

8

54

Operating profit/(loss)

1,286

187

1,176

184

2,833

(213)

2,620









Half year ended 30 June 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net interest income

1,976

232

1,487

34

3,729

15

3,744

Net fees and commissions

173

124

702

(10)

989

30

1,019

Other non-interest income

1

12

285

60

358

20

378

Total income

2,150

368

2,474

84

5,076

65

5,141

Depreciation and amortisation

-

-

(85)

(329)

(414)

-

(414)

Other operating expenses

(1,187)

(249)

(1,739)

329

(2,846)

(239)

(3,085)

Impairment releases/(losses)

57

27

613

(1)

696

(13)

683

Operating profit/(loss)

1,020

146

1,263

83

2,512

(187)

2,325

 

Total revenue (1)

 


Go-forward group

 



 

 

 

 

Total  

 



 

 

 

Central

excluding

Ulster


 

Retail

Private

Commercial &

  items &

Ulster

Bank


 

Banking

Banking

Institutional

other

Bank RoI

RoI

Total

Half year ended 30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

External

2,766

407

3,020

1,167

7,360

75

7,435

Inter-segmental

-

106

76

(182)

-

-

-

Total

2,766

513

3,096

985

7,360

75

7,435









Half year ended 30 June 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

External

2,667

358

2,662

508

6,195

97

6,292

Inter-segmental

14

60

63

(137)

-

-

-

Total

2,681

418

2,725

371

6,195

97

6,292

 

(1)

Total revenue comprises interest receivable, fees and commissions receivable, income from trading activities and other operating income.

 

 

Notes

6. Segmental analysis continued

Analysis of net fees and commissions

 


Go-forward group

 



 

 

 

 

Total  

 



 

 

 

Central

excluding

Ulster



Retail

Private

Commercial &

  items &

Ulster

Bank


 

Banking

Banking

Institutional

other

Bank RoI

RoI

Total

Half year ended 30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fees and commissions receivable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  - Payment services

152

17

308

-

477

26

503

  - Credit and debit card fees

203

8

102

-

313

10

323

  - Lending and financing

8

4

327

-

339

1

340

  - Brokerage

27

3

21

-

51

-

51

  - Investment management,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  trustee and fiduciary services  

1

114

22

-

137

-

137

  - Underwriting fees

-

-

65

-

65

-

65

  - Other

-

-

56

(51)

5

-

5

Total

391

146

901

(51)

1,387

37

1,424


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fees and commissions payable

(172)

(15)

(148)

58

(277)

(23)

(300)

Net fees and commissions

219

131

753

7

1,110

14

1,124









Half year ended 30 June 2021








Continuing operations








Fees and commissions receivable








  - Payment services

145

16

271

-

432

26

458

  - Credit and debit card fees

149

4

70

-

223

8

231

  - Lending and financing

6

4

304

-

314

1

315

  - Brokerage

32

3

25

-

60

-

60

  - Investment management,  








  trustee and fiduciary services

1

113

22

-

136

1

137

  - Underwriting fees

-

-

77

-

77

-

77

  - Other

-

16

66

(56)

26

-

26

Total

333

156

835

(56)

1,268

36

1,304









Fees and commissions payable

(160)

(32)

(133)

46

(279)

(6)

(285)

Net fees and commissions

173

124

702

(10)

989

30

1,019

 

Total assets and liabilities

 

Go-forward group

 


 

 

 

 

Total  

 


 

 

 

Central

excluding

Ulster


Retail

Private

Commercial &

  items &

Ulster

Bank


Banking

Banking

Institutional

other

Bank RoI

RoI

Total

30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Assets

  216,174  

30,045  

451,530  

87,050  

784,799  

21,679  

  806,478  

Liabilities

  194,182  

41,720  

441,393  

74,359  

751,654  

16,197  

  767,851  









31 December 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

209,973

29,854

425,718

93,614

759,159

22,833

781,992

Liabilities

192,715

39,388

411,757

77,308

721,168

19,021

740,189

 



 


Notes

7. Tax

The actual tax charge differs from the expected tax charge computed by applying the standard UK corporation tax rate of 19% (2021 - 19%), as analysed below:


Half year ended


30 June

30 June

2022

2021

Continuing operations

£m

£m

Profit before tax

2,620

2,325


 


Expected tax charge

(498)

(442)

Losses and temporary differences in period where no deferred tax assets recognised

(51)

(28)

Foreign profits taxed at other rates

(39)

(8)

Items not allowed for tax:

 


  - losses on disposals and write-downs

(4)

(3)

  - UK bank levy

(9)

(11)

  - regulatory and legal actions

(13)

3

  - other disallowable items

(12)

(10)

Non-taxable items

8

25

Taxable foreign exchange movements

(7)

-

Losses bought forward and utilised

-

6

Increase/(decrease) in the carrying value of deferred tax assets in respect of:

 


  - UK losses

10

(5)

  - Ireland losses

(1)

(32)

Banking surcharge

(207)

(173)

Tax on paid-in equity

22

32

UK tax rate change impact

(31)

206

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

37

8

 

 


Actual tax charge

(795)

(432)

 

At 30 June 2022, NatWest Group has recognised a deferred tax asset of £1,637 million (31 December 2021 - £1,195 million) and a deferred tax liability of £286 million (31 December 2021 - £359 million). These amounts include deferred tax assets recognised in respect of trading losses of £801 million (31 December 2021 - £899 million). NatWest Group has considered the carrying value of these assets as at 30 June 2022 and concluded that they are recoverable.

 

It was announced in the UK Government's Budget on 27 October 2021 that the UK banking surcharge will decrease from 8% to 3% from 1 April 2023. This legislative change was substantively enacted on 2 February 2022. NatWest Group's closing deferred tax assets and liabilities have therefore been recalculated taking into account this change of rate and the applicable period the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to crystallise.

 

8. Discontinued operations and assets and liabilities of disposal groups

Three legally binding agreements for the sale of UBIDAC business have been announced as part of the phased withdrawal from the Republic of Ireland:

 

On 28 June 2021 NatWest Group announced it had agreed a binding sale agreement with Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. for the transfer of c.€4.2 billion (plus up to €2.8 billion of undrawn exposures), of gross performing commercial loans as well as those c.280 colleagues who are wholly or mainly assigned to supporting that part of the business, with the final number of roles to be confirmed as the deal completes. On 28 April 2022, approval was received from the Irish competition authority (the CCPC) in relation to this sale, which is expected to be completed in a series of transactions during 2022 and H1 2023.

 

On 17 December 2021 NatWest Group signed a legally binding agreement with Permanent TSB p.l.c. (PTSB) for the sale of approximately €7.6bn of gross performing non-tracker mortgages (as at 30 June 2021), the performing loans in the micro-SME business; the UBIDAC Asset Finance business, including its Lombard digital platform, and 25 Ulster Bank branch locations in the Republic of Ireland. The majority of loans are expected to transfer by Q4 2022. As part of the transaction it is anticipated that c.450 colleagues will have the right to transfer under the TUPE regulations, with the final number of roles to be confirmed as the deal completes. On 22 July 2022, confirmation was received from the CCPC that it had cleared this sale. Shareholders of PTSB's holding company have also approved this transaction.

 

On 1 June 2022 a legally binding agreement was reached with Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c. for the sale of c. €6 billion portfolio of gross performing tracker and linked mortgages. Completion of this sale, which is subject to obtaining any relevant regulatory approvals and satisfying the conditions of the legally binding agreement, is expected to occur in Q2 2023.

 

The business activities relating to these sales that meet the requirements of IFRS 5 are presented as a discontinued operation and as a disposal group at 30 June 2022. Comparatives have been re-presented from those previously published to reclassify certain items as discontinued operations. The Ulster Bank RoI operating segment continues to be reported separately and reflects the results and balance sheet position of its continuing operations.



 

Notes

8. Discontinued operations and assets and liabilities of disposal groups continued

Further to the announced sales of the majority of mortgage loans held, in June 2022 UBIDAC announced the cessation of new mortgage business to its customers. This decision represents a change to the IFRS9 business model on mortgage financial assets in UBIDAC. We will reclassify these assets to fair value through profit and loss from 1 July 2022 as required by IFRS9. We anticipate a c.€350 million reduction in mortgage financial assets moving from an amortised cost basis to a fair value basis. This reclassification applies to all mortgage financial assets in UBIDAC across both our continuing and discontinued operations.

 

(a) Profit from discontinued operations, net of tax


30 June

30 June


2022

2021


£m  

£m  

Interest receivable

156

172

Net interest income

156

172

Non-interest income

(4)

6

Total income

152

178

Operating expenses

(24)

(22)

Profit before impairment releases

128

156

Impairment releases

62

24

Operating profit before tax

190

180

Tax charge

-

(3)

Profit from discontinued operations, net of tax

190

177

 

(b) Assets and liabilities of disposal groups

 

30 June  

31 December


2022

2021


£m  

£m  

Assets of disposal groups

 


Loans to customers - amortised cost

14,178

9,002

Derivatives

1

5

Other assets

8

8


14,187

9,015


 


Liabilities of disposal groups

 


Other liabilities

8

5


8

5


 


Net assets of disposal groups

14,179

9,010




 

(c) Operating cash flows attributable to discontinued operations


30 June

30 June


2022

2021


£m  

£m  

Net cash flows from operating activities

402

857

Net cash flows from investing activities

150

-

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

552

857



 


Notes

9. Financial instruments - classification

The following tables analyse financial assets and liabilities in accordance with the categories of financial instruments in IFRS 9.


 

 

Amortised

Other

 


MFVTPL

FVOCI

cost

assets

Total

Assets

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Cash and balances at central banks

 

 

179,525

 

179,525

Trading assets

65,604

 

 

 

65,604

Derivatives   (1)

109,342

 

 

 

109,342

Settlement balances

 

 

10,294

 

10,294

Loans to banks - amortised cost

 

 

10,668

 

10,668

Loans to customers - amortised cost   (2)

 

 

362,551

 

362,551

Other financial assets

242

26,691

11,963

 

38,896

Intangible assets

 

 

 

6,869

6,869

Other assets

 

 

 

8,542

8,542

Assets of disposal groups

 

 

 

14,187

14,187

30 June 2022

175,188

26,691

575,001

29,598

806,478







Cash and balances at central banks



177,757


177,757

Trading assets

59,158




59,158

Derivatives   (1)

106,139




106,139

Settlement balances



2,141


2,141

Loans to banks - amortised cost



7,682


7,682

Loans to customers - amortised cost   (2)



358,990


358,990

Other financial assets

317

37,266

8,562


46,145

Intangible assets




6,723

6,723

Other assets




8,242

8,242

Assets of disposal groups




9,015

9,015

31 December 2021

165,614

37,266

555,132

23,980

781,992

 

Held-for-

 

Amortised

Other

 


trading

DFV

cost

liabilities

Total

Liabilities

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Bank deposits

 

 

24,862

 

24,862

Customer deposits

 

 

492,075

 

492,075

Settlement balances

 

 

9,779

 

9,779

Trading liabilities

74,345

 

 

 

74,345

Derivatives   (1)

102,719

 

 

 

102,719

Other financial liabilities

 

1,779

45,965

 

47,744

Subordinated liabilities

 

340

7,770

 

8,110

Notes in circulation

 

 

2,947

 

2,947

Other liabilities   (3)

 

 

1,275

3,995

5,270

30 June 2022

177,064

2,119

584,673

3,995

767,851







Bank deposits



26,279


26,279

Customer deposits



479,810


479,810

Settlement balances



2,068


2,068

Trading liabilities

64,598




64,598

Derivatives   (1)

100,835




100,835

Other financial liabilities


1,671

47,655


49,326

Subordinated liabilities


703

7,726


8,429

Notes in circulation



3,047


3,047

Other liabilities   (3)



1,356

4,441

5,797

31 December 2021

165,433

2,374

567,941

4,441

740,189

 

(1)

Includes net hedging derivatives assets of £136 million (31 December 2021 - £44 million) and net hedging derivatives liabilities of £166 million (31 December 2021 - £120 million).

(2)

Includes finance lease receivables of £8,113 million (31 December 2021 - £8,531 million).

(3)

Includes lease liabilities of £1,189 million (31 December 2021 - £1,263 million) in amortised cost.

 

 

30 June

31 December

2022

2021

£m

£m

Reverse repos



Trading assets

25,893

20,742

Loans to banks - amortised cost

8

189

Loans to customers - amortised cost

25,084

25,962


 


Repos

 


Bank deposits

4,720

7,912

Customer deposits

19,195

14,541

Trading liabilities

29,406

19,389



 

Notes

9. Financial instruments - valuation

Disclosures relating to the control environment, valuation techniques and related aspects pertaining to financial instruments measured at fair value are included in the NatWest Group plc 2021 Annual Report and Accounts. Valuation, sensitivity methodologies and inputs at 30 June 2022 are consistent with those described in Note 11 to the NatWest Group plc 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

Fair value hierarchy

The table below shows the assets and liabilities held by NatWest Group split by fair value hierarchy level. Level 1 are considered the most liquid instruments, and level 3 the most illiquid, valued using expert judgment and hence carry the most significant price uncertainty.

 


30 June 2022

 

31 December 2021


Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

 

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

Assets

 

 

 

 






Trading assets

 

 

 

 


 

 

 


  Loans

-

40,722

642

41,364


-

33,482

721

34,203

  Securities

20,032

4,206

2

24,240


19,563

5,371

21

24,955

Derivatives

-

108,349

993

109,342


-

105,222

917

106,139

Other financial assets

 

 

 

 






  Loans

-

111

230

341


-

359

207

566

  Securities

18,879

7,521

192

26,592


28,880

7,951

186

37,017

Total financial assets held at fair value

38,911

160,909

2,059

201,879


48,443

152,385

2,052

202,880

As a % of total fair value assets

19%

80%

1%

 


24%

75%

1%

 


 

 

 

 






Liabilities

 

 

 

 






Trading liabilities

 

 

 

 





 

  Deposits

-

48,780

1

48,781


-

38,658

2

38,660

  Debt securities in issue

-

801

2

803


-

974

-

974

  Short positions

22,022

2,738

1

24,761


20,507

4,456

1

24,964

Derivatives

-

101,972

747

102,719


-

100,229

606

100,835

Other financial liabilities

 

 

 

 






  Debt securities in issue

-

1,237

-

1,237


-

1,103

-

1,103

  Other deposits

-

542

-

542


-

568

-

568

Subordinated liabilities

-

340

-

340


-

703

-

703

Total financial liabilities held at fair value

22,022

156,410

751

179,183


20,507

146,691

609

167,807

As a % of total fair value liabilities

12%

88%

0%

 


12%

88%

0%

 

 

(1)

Level 1 - Instruments valued using unadjusted quoted prices in active and liquid markets, for identical financial instruments. Examples include government bonds, listed equity shares and certain exchange-traded derivatives.

Level 2 - Instruments valued using valuation techniques that have observable inputs. Observable inputs are those that are readily available with limited adjustments required. Examples include most government agency securities, investment-grade corporate bonds, certain mortgage products - including CLOs, most bank loans, repos and reverse repos, state and municipal obligations, most notes issued, certain money market securities, loan commitments and most OTC derivatives.

Level 3 - Instruments valued using a valuation technique where at least one input which could have a significant effect on the instrument's valuation, is not based on observable market data. Examples include non-derivative instruments which trade infrequently, certain syndicated and commercial mortgage loans, private equity, and derivatives with unobservable model inputs.

(2)

Transfers between levels are deemed to have occurred at the beginning of the quarter in which the instrument was transferred.

(3)

For an analysis of debt securities held at mandatorily fair value through profit or loss by issuer as well as ratings and derivatives, by type and contract, refer to Risk and capital management - Credit risk.

 

Valuation adjustments

When valuing financial instruments in the trading book, adjustments are made to mid-market valuations to cover bid-offer spread, funding and credit risk. These adjustments are presented in the table below. For further information refer to the descriptions of valuation adjustments within 'Financial instruments - valuation' on page 341 of the NatWest Group plc 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

 

30 June

 

31 December


2022

 

2021


£m

 

£m

Funding - FVA

121


90

Credit - CVA

365


390

Bid - Offer

120


113

Product and deal specific

128


119


734


712

 

-

Valuation reserves comprising of credit valuation adjustments (CVA), funding valuation adjustment (FVA), bid-offer and product and deal specific reserves, increased to £734 million at 30 June 2022 (31 December 2021 - £712 million).

-

The net increase in FVA was driven by a net increase in the underlying derivative exposure, driven by an increase in interest rates. The increase in bid-offer was driven by an increase in risk and wider bid-offer spreads. The decrease in CVA was driven by a reduction in exposures, primarily due to increases in interest rates and trade exit activity, partially offset by the net impact of credit spreads widening and specific counterparty activity.



 

Notes

9. Financial instruments - valuation continued

Level 3 sensitivities

The table below shows the high and low range of fair value of the level 3 assets and liabilities.

 


30 June 2022

 

31 December 2021


Level 3

Favourable

Unfavourable

 

Level 3

Favourable

Unfavourable

 

£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Assets

 

 

 





Trading assets

 

 

 





  Loans

642

10

(10)


721

10

(10)

  Securities

2

-

-


21

-

-

Derivatives

993

60

(60)


917

60

(70)

Other financial assets

 

 

 





  Loans

230

10

(10)


207

10

(10)

  Securities

192

30

(30)


186

20

(20)

Total financial assets held at fair value

2,059

110

(110)


2,052

100

(110)


 

 

 





Liabilities

 

 

 





Trading liabilities

 

 

 





  Deposits

1

-

-


2

-

-

  Debt securities in issue

2

-

-


-

-

-

  Short positions

1

-

-


1

-

-

Derivatives

747

30

(30)


606

30

(30)

Total financial liabilities held at fair value

751

30

(30)


609

30

(30)

 

Alternative assumptions

Reasonably plausible alternative assumptions of unobservable inputs are determined based on a specified target level of certainty of 90%. Alternative assumptions are determined with reference to all available evidence including consideration of the following: quality of independent pricing information considering consistency between different sources, variation over time, perceived tradability or otherwise of available quotes; consensus service dispersion ranges; volume of trading activity and market bias (e.g. one-way inventory); day 1 profit or loss arising on new trades; number and nature of market participants; market conditions; modelling consistency in the market; size and nature of risk; length of holding of position; and market intelligence.

 

Movement in level 3 assets and liabilities

The following table shows the movement in level 3 assets and liabilities.

 


Half year ended 30 June 2022

 

Half year ended 30 June 2021


 

Other

 

 

 


Other




Trading

financial

Total

Total

 

Trading

financial

Total

Total


assets   (1)

assets   (2)

assets

liabilities

 

assets   (1)

assets   (2)

assets

liabilities

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

At 1 January

1,659

393

2,052

609


1,388

335

1,723

894

Amount recorded in the income statement   (3)

134

(20)

114

139


(125)

3

(122)

(98)

Amount recorded in the statement of  

 

 

 

 






  comprehensive income

-

(19)

(19)

-


-

17

17

-

Level 3 transfers in  

143

-

143

31


42

428

470

15

Level 3 transfers out

(101)

(1)

(102)

(36)


(68)

-

(68)

(116)

Purchases/originations

352

67

419

154


168

10

178

114

Settlements/other decreases

(28)

-

(28)

(15)


(36)

(4)

(40)

(15)

Sales

(526)

-

(526)

(133)


(156)

(4)

(160)

(107)

Foreign exchange and other

4

2

6

2


(1)

(3)

(4)

(2)

At 30 June

1,637

422

2,059

751


1,212

782

1,994

685

Amounts recorded in the income statement

 

 

 

 






  in respect of balances held at year end

 

 

 

 






  - unrealised

134

(20)

114

139


(125)

3

(122)

(98)

 

(1)

Trading assets comprise assets held at fair value in trading portfolios.

(2)

Other financial assets comprise fair value through other comprehensive income, designated at fair value through profit or loss and other fair value through profit or loss. 

(3)

Net losses of £5 million on trading assets and liabilities (30 June 2021 - £27 million) were recorded in income from trading activities. Net losses on other instruments of £20 million (30 June 2021 - £3 million gains) were recorded in other operating income and interest income as appropriate.









 

Notes

9. Financial instruments - valuation continued

Fair value of financial instruments measured at amortised cost on the balance sheet

The following table shows the carrying value and fair value of financial instruments carried at amortised cost on the balance sheet.

 

 

Items where

 

 




 

fair value

 

 





approximates

Carrying

 

Fair value hierarchy level


carrying value

value

Fair value

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

30 June 2022

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

£bn

Financial assets  

 

 

 




Cash and balances at central banks

179.5

 

 

 

 

 

Settlement balances

10.3

 

 

 

 

 

Loans to banks

0.7

10.0

10.0

-

5.9

4.1

Loans to customers

 

362.6

355.4

-

27.2

328.2

Other financial assets - securities

 

12.0

11.7

4.7

2.1

4.9








31 December 2021

 

 

 




Financial assets  







Cash and balances at central banks

177.8






Settlement balances

2.1






Loans to banks

0.1

7.5

7.5

-

5.0

2.5

Loans to customers


359.0

354.1

-

28.0

326.1

Other financial assets - securities


8.6

8.6

4.4

0.7

3.5


 

 

 




30 June 2022

 

 

 




Financial liabilities

 

 

 




Bank deposits

6.2

18.7

17.6

-

15.1

2.5

Customer deposits

444.1

47.9

47.9

-

22.1

25.8

Settlement balances

9.8

 

 

 

 

 

Other financial liabilities -   debt securities in issue

 

46.0

45.9

-

39.3

6.6

Subordinated liabilities

 

7.8

7.9

-

7.8

0.1

Notes in circulation

2.9

 

 

 

 

 








31 December 2021

 

 

 




Financial liabilities







Bank deposits

4.9

21.4

21.0

-

18.7

2.3

Customer deposits

442.4

37.4

37.6

-

18.1

19.5

Settlement balances

2.1






Other financial liabilities -   debt securities in issue


47.7

48.6

-

41.4

7.2

Subordinated liabilities


7.7

8.3

-

8.2

0.1

Notes in circulation

3.0






 

Short-term financial instruments

For certain short-term financial instruments: cash and balances at central banks, items in the course of collection from other banks, settlement balances, items in the course of transmission to other banks, customer demand deposits and notes in circulation, carrying value is deemed a reasonable approximation of fair value.

 

Loans to banks and customers

In estimating the fair value of net loans to customers and banks measured at amortised cost, NatWest Group's loans are segregated into appropriate portfolios reflecting the characteristics of the constituent loans. Two principal methods are used to estimate fair value; contractual cash flows and expected cash flows.

 

Debt securities and subordinated liabilities

Most debt securities are valued using quoted prices in active markets or from quoted prices of similar financial instruments in active markets. For the remaining population, fair values are determined using market standard valuation techniques, such as discounted cash flows.

 

Bank and customer deposits

Fair value of deposits are estimated using discounted cash flow valuation techniques.


Notes

10. Trading assets and liabilities

Trading assets and liabilities comprise assets and liabilities held at fair value in trading portfolios.




30 June

31 December

2022

2021

Assets

£m

£m

Loans



  Reverse repos

25,893

20,742

  Collateral given

14,378

12,047

  Other loans

1,093

1,414

Total loans

41,364

34,203

Securities

 


  Central and local government

 


  -   UK

7,075

6,919

  -   US

3,840

3,329

  -   other

9,364

10,929

  Financial institutions and corporate

3,961

3,778

Total securities

24,240

24,955

Total

65,604

59,158


 


Liabilities

 


Deposits

 


  Repos  

29,406

19,389

  Collateral received

18,276

17,718

  Other deposits

1,099

1,553

Total deposits

48,781

38,660

Debt securities in issue

803

974

Short positions

24,761

24,964

Total

74,345

64,598

 

 

 

Notes

11. Loan impairment provisions

Loan exposure and impairment metrics

The table below summarises loans and related credit impairment measures on an IFRS 9 basis.


30 June

31 December

2022

2021


£m

£m

Loans - amortised cost and FVOCI



Stage 1

342,121

330,824

Stage 2

28,505

33,981

Stage 3

5,816

5,022

Of which: individual

1,162

1,215

Of which: collective

4,654

3,807


376,442

369,827

ECL provisions   (1)

 


Stage 1

408

302

Stage 2

1,122

1478

Stage 3

1,985

2,026

Of which: individual

304

363

Of which: collective

1,681

1,663


3,515

3,806

ECL provisions coverage   (2)

 


Stage 1 (%)

0.12

0.09

Stage 2 (%)

3.94

4.35

Stage 3 (%)

34.13

40.34


0.93

1.03


 



Half year ended


30 June

30 June


2022

2021


£m

£m

Impairment losses

 


ECL (release)/charge   (3)

(54)

(683)

Stage 1

(342)

(662)

Stage 2

205

(114)

Stage 3

83

93

Of which: individual

(1)

(25)

Of which: collective

84

118


 


Amounts written off

215

517

Of which: individual

58

256

Of which: collective

157

261

 

 

(1)

Includes £3 million (31 December 2021 - £5 million) related to assets classified as FVOCI.

(2)

ECL provisions coverage is calculated as ECL provisions divided by loans. It is calculated on third party loans and total ECL provisions.

(3)

Includes a £2 million release (30 June 2021 - £4 million charge) related to other financial assets, of which nil (30 June 2021 - nil) related to assets classified as FVOCI; and £3 million (30 June 2021 - £2 million) related to contingent liabilities.

(4)

The table shows gross loans only and excludes amounts that are outside the scope of the ECL framework. Refer to page 29 for Financial instruments within the scope of the IFRS 9 ECL framework for further details. Other financial assets within the scope of the IFRS 9 ECL framework were cash and balances at central banks totalling £178.4 billion (31 December 2021 - £176.3 billion) and debt securities of £38.6 billion (31 December 2021 - £44.9 billion).

 



 


Notes

12. Provisions for liabilities and charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial

 

 

 

 

Customer

Litigation and

 

commitments

 

 

 

 

redress   (1)

other regulatory   (2)

Property

and guarantees

Other   (3)

Total

 

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

 

At 1 January 2022

474

277

231

93

193

1,268

 

Expected credit losses impairment release

-

-

-

(6)

-

(6)

 

Currency translation and other movements

1

18

-

-

3

22

 

Charge to income statement

88

6

10

-

33

137

 

Release to income statement

(19)

(5)

(5)

-

(27)

(56)

 

Provisions utilised

(76)

(71)

(16)

-

(63)

(226)

 

At 30 June 2022

468

225

220

87

139

1,139

 


 

 

 

 



 

(1)

Includes payment protection insurance provision which reflects the estimated cost of PPI redress attributable to claims prior to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) complaint deadline of 29 August 2019. All pre-deadline complaints have been processed which removes complaint volume estimation uncertainty from the provision estimate. NatWest Group continues to conclude remaining bank-identified closure work and conclude cases with the Financial Ombudsmen Service.

(2)

Majority of utilisation of litigation provisions relates to resolutions of the FX-related investigation by the European Commission and the spoofing-related investigation by the US Department of Justice.

(3)

Other materially comprises provisions relating to restructuring costs.

 

Provisions are liabilities of uncertain timing or amount and are recognised when there is a present obligation as a result of a past event, the outflow of economic benefit is probable and the outflow can be estimated reliably. Any difference between the final outcome and the amounts provided will affect the reported results in the period when the matter is resolved.


13. Dividends

The 2021 final dividend was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 28 April 2022 and the payment made on 4 May 2022 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 18 March 2022.

 

NatWest Group plc announces an interim dividend for 2022 of £364 million, or 3.5 pence per ordinary share. The interim dividend will be paid on 16 September 2022 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 26 August 2022. The ex-dividend date will be 25 August 2022.

 

NatWest Group plc also announces that the directors have recommended a special dividend of £1,750 million, or 16.8 pence per share, and associated share consolidation, each will be subject to shareholder approval at a General Meeting on 25 August 2022. A circular containing details of the special dividend and share consolidation, as well as a notice convening a General Meeting of shareholders and a class meeting of ordinary shareholders and details of the resolutions to be considered at that General Meeting and class meeting, is expected to be published shortly. If approved by shareholders, assuming that all other conditions are satisfied, the special dividend is expected to be paid on 16 September 2022 to shareholders on the register on 26 August 2022. The ex-entitlement date for the special dividend will be 30 August 2022.

 

14. Contingent liabilities and commitments

The amounts shown in the table below are intended only to provide an indication of the volume of business outstanding at 30 June 2022. Although NatWest Group is exposed to credit risk in the event of a customer's failure to meet its obligations, the amounts shown do not, and are not intended to, provide any indication of NatWest Group's expectation of future losses.

 


30 June

31 December

2022

2021


£m

£m

Guarantees

2,436

2,055

Other contingent liabilities

1,863

2,004

Standby facilities, credit lines and other commitments

129,293

121,308

Contingent liabilities and commitments

133,592

125,367

 

Commitments and contingent obligations are subject to NatWest Group's normal credit approval processes.



 

Notes

15. Litigation and regulatory matters

NatWest Group plc and certain members of NatWest Group are party to legal proceedings and involved in regulatory matters, including as the subject of investigations and other regulatory and governmental action (Matters) in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), the European Union (EU) and other jurisdictions.

NatWest Group recognises a provision for a liability in relation to these Matters when it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle an obligation resulting from past events, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

In many of these Matters, it is not possible to determine whether any loss is probable, or to estimate reliably the amount of any loss, either as a direct consequence of the relevant proceedings and regulatory matters or as a result of adverse impacts or restrictions on NatWest Group's reputation, businesses and operations. Numerous legal and factual issues may need to be resolved, including through potentially lengthy discovery and document production exercises and determination of important factual matters, and by addressing novel or unsettled legal questions relevant to the proceedings in question, before a liability can reasonably be estimated for any claim. NatWest Group cannot predict if, how, or when such claims will be resolved or what the eventual settlement, damages, fine, penalty or other relief, if any, may be, particularly for claims that are at an early stage in their development or where claimants seek substantial or indeterminate damages.

There are situations where NatWest Group may pursue an approach that in some instances leads to a settlement agreement. This may occur in order to avoid the expense, management distraction or reputational implications of continuing to contest liability, or in order to take account of the risks inherent in defending claims or regulatory matters, even for those Matters for which NatWest Group believes it has credible defences and should prevail on the merits. The uncertainties inherent in all such Matters affect the amount and timing of any potential outflows for both Matters with respect to which provisions have been established and other contingent liabilities.

It is not practicable to provide an aggregate estimate of potential liability for our legal proceedings and regulatory matters as a class of contingent liabilities.

The future outflow of resources in respect of any Matter may ultimately prove to be substantially greater than or less than the aggregate provision that NatWest Group has recognised. Where (and as far as) liability cannot be reasonably estimated, no provision has been recognised. NatWest Group expects that in future periods, additional provisions, settlement amounts and customer redress payments will be necessary, in amounts that are expected to be substantial in some instances. Please refer to Note 12 for information on material provisions.

Material Matters in which NatWest Group is currently involved are set out below. We have provided information on the procedural history of certain Matters, where we believe appropriate, to aid the understanding of the Matter.

For a discussion of certain risks associated with NatWest Group's litigation and regulatory matters, see the Risk factor relating to legal, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations set out on page 425 of NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

Litigation

Residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) litigation in the US

NatWest Group companies continue to defend RMBS-related claims in the US in which the plaintiff, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), alleges that certain disclosures made in connection with the relevant offerings of RMBS contained materially false or misleading statements and/or omissions regarding the underwriting standards pursuant to which the mortgage loans underlying the RMBS were issued.

London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other rates litigation

NWM Plc and certain other members of NatWest Group, including NatWest Group plc, are defendants in a number of class actions and individual claims pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) with respect to the setting of LIBOR and certain other benchmark interest rates. The complaints allege that certain members of NatWest Group and other panel banks violated various federal laws, including the US commodities and antitrust laws, and state statutory and common law, as well as contracts, by manipulating LIBOR and prices of LIBOR-based derivatives in various markets through various means.

Several class actions relating to USD LIBOR, as well as more than two dozen non-class actions concerning USD LIBOR, are part of a co-ordinated proceeding in the SDNY. In December 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (US Court of Appeals) affirmed the SDNY's prior decision that plaintiffs who purchased LIBOR-based instruments from third parties (as opposed to the defendants) lack antitrust standing to pursue such claims. In addition, the appellate court, reversing a December 2016 decision of the SDNY, held that plaintiffs in these cases have adequately asserted the court's personal jurisdiction over NWM Plc and other non-US banks, including with respect to antitrust class action claims on behalf of over-the-counter plaintiffs and exchange-based purchaser plaintiffs. In February 2022, the US Court of Appeals, on similar grounds, reversed the SDNY's prior dismissal of a fraud class action on behalf of lender plaintiffs. The appellate court remanded these matters to the SDNY for further proceedings in light of its rulings. In March 2020, NatWest Group companies finalised a settlement resolving the class action on behalf of bondholder plaintiffs (those who held bonds issued by non-defendants on which interest was paid from 2007 to 2010 at a rate expressly tied to USD LIBOR). The amount of the settlement (which was covered by an existing provision) has been paid into escrow pending court approval of the settlement.

 

Notes

15. Litigation and regulatory matters continued

The non-class claims filed in the SDNY include claims that the FDIC is asserting on behalf of certain failed US banks. In July 2017, the FDIC, on behalf of 39 of those failed US banks, commenced substantially similar claims against NatWest Group companies and others in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales. The action alleges collusion with regard to the setting of USD LIBOR and that the defendants breached UK and European competition law, as well as asserting common law claims of fraud under US law. The defendant banks consented to a request by the FDIC for discontinuance of the claim in respect of 20 failed US banks, leaving 19 failed US banks as claimants. The UK proceedings are at the disclosure stage but have been stayed until 31 July 2022.

In addition, there are two class actions relating to JPY LIBOR and Euroyen TIBOR. The first class action, which relates to Euroyen TIBOR futures contracts, was dismissed by the SDNY in September 2020 on jurisdictional and other grounds, and the plaintiffs have commenced an appeal to the US Court of Appeals. The second class action, which relates to other derivatives allegedly tied to JPY LIBOR and Euroyen TIBOR, was dismissed by the SDNY in relation to NWM Plc and other NatWest Group companies in September 2021. That dismissal may be the subject of a future appeal.

In addition to the above, five other class action complaints were filed against NatWest Group companies in the SDNY, each relating to a different reference rate. In February 2017, the SDNY dismissed the case relating to Euribor for lack of personal jurisdiction and in August 2019, the SDNY dismissed the case relating to Pound Sterling for various reasons. Plaintiffs' appeals in those two cases remain pending.

In May 2022, NatWest Group companies and the plaintiffs in the class action relating to the Singapore Interbank Offered Rate and Singapore Swap Offer Rate ('SIBOR / SOR') finalised a settlement resolving that case. In April 2022, NatWest Group companies and the plaintiffs in the class action relating to the Australian Bank Bill Swap Reference Rate finalised a settlement resolving that case. In June 2021, NWM Plc and the plaintiffs in the Swiss Franc LIBOR class action finalised a settlement resolving that case. The amounts of the three settlements have been paid into escrow pending final court approval of the settlements.

NWM Plc is also named as a defendant in a motion to certify a class action relating to LIBOR in the Tel Aviv District Court in Israel. NWM Plc filed a motion for cancellation of service outside the jurisdiction, which was granted in July 2020. The claimants appealed that decision and in November 2020 the appeal was refused and the claim dismissed by the Appellate Court. The claim could in future be recommenced depending on the outcome of an appeal to Israel's Supreme Court in respect of dismissal of the substantive case against banks that had a presence in Israel.

In August 2020, a complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California by several United States consumer borrowers against the USD ICE LIBOR panel banks and their affiliates, alleging that the normal process of setting USD ICE LIBOR amounts to illegal price-fixing, and also that banks in the United States have illegally agreed to use LIBOR as a component of price in variable consumer loans. The NatWest Group defendants are NatWest Group plc, NWM Plc, NWMSI and NWB Plc. The plaintiffs seek damages and to prevent the enforcement of LIBOR-based instruments through injunction. Defendants have filed a motion to dismiss, which remains pending.

FX litigation

NWM Plc, NWMSI and/or NatWest Group plc are defendants in several cases relating to NWM Plc's foreign exchange (FX) business. In 2015, NWM Plc paid US$255 million to settle the consolidated antitrust class action filed in the SDNY on behalf of persons who entered into over-the-counter FX transactions with defendants or who traded FX instruments on exchanges. In 2018, some members of the settlement class who opted out of that class action settlement filed their own non-class complaint in the SDNY asserting antitrust claims against NWM Plc, NWMSI and other banks. Those opt-out claims are proceeding in discovery.

In April 2019, some of the same claimants in the opt-out case described above, as well as others, served proceedings (which are ongoing) in the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, asserting competition claims against NWM Plc and several other banks. The claim was transferred from the High Court of Justice of England and Wales in December 2021 and registered in the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in January 2022.

An FX-related class action, on behalf of 'consumers and end-user businesses', is proceeding in the SDNY against NWM Plc and others. In March 2022, the SDNY denied the plaintiffs' motion for class certification. Plaintiffs are seeking to appeal the decision. 

In May 2019, a cartel class action was filed in the Federal Court of Australia against NWM Plc and four other banks on behalf of persons who bought or sold currency through FX spots or forwards between 1 January 2008 and 15 October 2013 with a total transaction value exceeding AUD $0.5 million. The claimant has alleged that the banks, including NWM Plc, contravened Australian competition law by sharing information, coordinating conduct, widening spreads and manipulating FX rates for certain currency pairs during this period. NatWest Group plc and NWMSI have been named in the action as 'other cartel participants', but are not respondents. The claim was served in June 2019 and, after a number of interlocutory pleading disputes, NWM Plc filed its defence in March 2022.

 

Notes

15. Litigation and regulatory matters continued

In July and December 2019, two separate applications seeking opt-out collective proceedings orders were filed in the CAT against NatWest Group plc, NWM Plc and other banks. Both applications were brought on behalf of persons who, between 18 December 2007 and 31 January 2013, entered into a relevant FX spot or outright forward transaction in the EEA with a relevant financial institution or on an electronic communications network. A hearing to determine class certification took place in July 2021. In March 2022, the CAT declined to certify as collective proceedings either of the applications, ruling that the opt-out basis on which they were brought was inappropriate. The CAT granted each applicant three months to revise their application for certification on an opt-in basis, if they wished to proceed. Neither applicant did so. The applicants have served judicial review proceedings, which are currently stayed. Separately, the applicants have applied for permission to appeal the CAT's judgment.

Two motions to certify FX-related class actions were filed in the Tel Aviv District Court in Israel in September and October 2018, and were subsequently consolidated into one motion. The consolidated motion to certify, which names The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (now NWM Plc) and several other banks as defendants, was served on NWM Plc in May 2020. NWM Plc has filed a motion challenging the permission to serve the consolidated motion outside the Israeli jurisdiction, which remains pending.

In December 2021, a claim was issued in the Netherlands against NatWest Group plc, NWM Plc and NWM N.V. by Stichting FX Claims, seeking a declaration from the court that anti-competitive FX market conduct described in decisions of the European Commission (EC) of 16 May 2019 is unlawful, along with unspecified damages. The claimant has requested the court's permission to amend its claim to also refer to a December 2021 decision by the EC, which also described anti-competitive FX market conduct. 

Certain other foreign exchange transaction related claims have been or may be threatened. NatWest Group cannot predict whether all or any of these claims will be pursued.

Government securities antitrust litigation

NWMSI and certain other US broker-dealers are defendants in a consolidated antitrust class action in the SDNY on behalf of persons who transacted in US Treasury securities or derivatives based on such instruments, including futures and options. The plaintiffs allege that defendants rigged the US Treasury securities auction bidding process to deflate prices at which they bought such securities and colluded to increase the prices at which they sold such securities to plaintiffs. In March 2022, the SDNY dismissed the operative complaint, without leave to re-plead. The dismissal is subject to appeal.

Class action antitrust claims commenced in March 2019 are pending in the SDNY against NWM Plc, NWMSI and other banks in respect of Euro-denominated bonds issued by European central banks (EGBs). The complaint alleges a conspiracy among dealers of EGBs to widen the bid-ask spreads they quoted to customers, thereby increasing the prices customers paid for the EGBs or decreasing the prices at which customers sold the bonds. The class consists of those who purchased or sold EGBs in the US between 2007 and 2012. In March 2022, the SDNY dismissed the claims against NWM Plc and NWMSI in the operative complaint on the ground that the complaint's conspiracy allegations are insufficient. The plaintiffs have indicated that they intend to file an amended complaint. 

Swaps antitrust litigation

NWM Plc and other members of NatWest Group, including NatWest Group plc, as well as a number of other interest rate swap dealers, are defendants in several cases pending in the SDNY alleging violations of the US antitrust laws in the market for interest rate swaps. There is a consolidated class action complaint on behalf of persons who entered into interest rate swaps with the defendants, as well as non-class action claims by three swap execution facilities (TeraExchange, Javelin, and trueEx). The plaintiffs allege that the swap execution facilities would have successfully established exchange-like trading of interest rate swaps if the defendants had not unlawfully conspired to prevent that from happening through boycotts and other means. Discovery in these cases is complete, and the plaintiffs' motion for class certification remains pending.

In June 2021, a class action antitrust complaint was filed against a number of credit default swap dealers in New Mexico federal court on behalf of persons who, from 2005 onwards, settled credit default swaps in the United States by reference to the ISDA credit default swap auction protocol. The complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to manipulate that benchmark through various means in violation of the antitrust laws and the Commodity Exchange Act. The defendants include several NatWest Group companies, including NatWest Group plc. Defendants are seeking dismissal.

Odd lot corporate bond trading antitrust litigation

In October 2021, the SDNY granted defendants' motion to dismiss the class action antitrust complaint alleging that from August 2006 onwards various securities dealers, including NWMSI, conspired artificially to widen spreads for odd lots of corporate bonds bought or sold in the United States secondary market and to boycott electronic trading platforms that would have allegedly promoted pricing competition in the market for such bonds. Plaintiffs have commenced an appeal of the dismissal.

Spoofing litigation

In December 2021, three substantially similar class actions complaints were filed in federal court in the United States against NWM Plc and NWMSI alleging Commodity Exchange Act and common law unjust enrichment claims arising from manipulative trading known as spoofing. The complaints refer to NWM Plc's December 2021 spoofing-related guilty plea (described below under "US investigations relating to fixed-income securities") and purport to assert claims on behalf of those who transacted in US Treasury securities and futures and options on US Treasury securities between 2008 and 2018. In July 2022, defendants filed a motion to dismiss these claims, which have been consolidated into one matter in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.



 

Notes

15. Litigation and regulatory matters continued

Madoff

NWM N.V. was named as a defendant in two actions filed by the trustee for the bankruptcy estates of Bernard L. Madoff and Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, in bankruptcy court in New York, which together seek to clawback more than US$298 million that NWM N.V. allegedly received from certain Madoff feeder funds and certain swap counterparties. The claims were previously dismissed, but as a result of an August 2021 decision by the US Court of Appeals, they will now proceed in the bankruptcy court, where they have now been consolidated into one action, subject to NWM N.V.'s legal and factual defences. In May 2022, NWM N.V. filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint in the consolidated action.

EUA trading litigation

NWM Plc was a named defendant in civil proceedings before the High Court of Justice of England and Wales brought in 2015 by ten   companies (all in liquidation) (the 'Liquidated Companies') and their respective liquidators (together, 'the Claimants'). The Liquidated Companies previously traded in European Union Allowances (EUAs) in 2009 and were alleged to be VAT defaulting traders within (or otherwise connected to) EUA supply chains of which NWM Plc was a party. In March 2020, the court held that NWM Plc and Mercuria Energy Europe Trading Limited ('Mercuria') were liable for dishonestly assisting and knowingly being a party to fraudulent trading during a seven business day period in 2009.

In October 2020, the High Court quantified total damages against NWM Plc and Mercuria at £45 million plus interest and costs, and permitted the defendants to appeal to the Court of Appeal. In May 2021 the Court of Appeal set aside the High Court's judgment and ordered that a retrial take place before a different High Court judge. The claimants have been denied permission by the Supreme Court to appeal that decision and the retrial will therefore proceed on a date to be scheduled. Mercuria has also been denied permission by the Supreme Court to appeal the High Court's finding that NWM Plc and Mercuria were both vicariously liable.

Offshoring VAT assessments

HMRC issued protective tax assessments in 2018 against NatWest Group plc totalling £143 million relating to unpaid VAT in respect of the UK branches of two NatWest Group companies registered in India. NatWest Group formally requested reconsideration by HMRC of their assessments, and this process was completed in November 2020. HMRC upheld their original decision and, as a result, NatWest Group plc lodged an appeal with the Tax Tribunal and an application for judicial review with the High Court of Justice of England and Wales, both in December 2020. In order to lodge the appeal with the Tax Tribunal, NatWest Group plc was required to pay the £143 million to HMRC, and payment was made in December 2020. The appeal and the application for judicial review have both been stayed pending resolution of a separate case involving another bank.

US Anti-Terrorism Act litigation

In March 2019, the trial court granted summary judgment in favour of NWB Plc in connection with lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York by a number of US nationals (or their estates, survivors, or heirs) who were victims of terrorist attacks in Israel. In April 2021, the US Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgment in favour of NWB Plc. In September 2021, the plaintiffs filed a petition seeking discretionary review by the United States Supreme Court, and that petition was denied in June 2022, bringing the matter to an end.

NWM N.V. and certain other financial institutions are defendants in several actions filed by a number of US nationals (or their estates, survivors, or heirs), most of whom are or were US military personnel, who were killed or injured in attacks in Iraq between 2003 and 2011. NWM Plc is also a defendant in some of these cases.

According to the plaintiffs' allegations, the defendants are liable for damages arising from the attacks because they allegedly conspired with Iran and certain Iranian banks to assist Iran in transferring money to Hezbollah and the Iraqi terror cells that committed the attacks, in violation of the US Anti-Terrorism Act, by agreeing to engage in 'stripping' of transactions initiated by the Iranian banks so that the Iranian nexus to the transactions would not be detected.

The first of these actions was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in November 2014. In September 2019, the district court dismissed the case, finding that the claims were deficient for several reasons, including lack of sufficient allegations as to the alleged conspiracy and causation. The plaintiffs are appealing the decision to the US Court of Appeals. Another action, filed in the SDNY in 2017, was dismissed in March 2019 on similar grounds, but remains subject to appeal to the US Court of Appeals. Other follow-on actions that are substantially similar to the two that have now been dismissed are pending in the same courts.

Securities underwriting litigation

NWMSI is an underwriter defendant in securities class actions in the US in which plaintiffs generally allege that an issuer of public securities, as well as the underwriters of the securities (including NWMSI), are liable to purchasers for misrepresentations and omissions made in connection with the offering of such securities.

1MDB litigation

A claim for a material sum was issued, but not served,  in Malaysia in 2021 by 1MDB against Coutts & Co Ltd for alleged losses in connection with the 1MDB fund. Coutts & Co Ltd is a company registered in Switzerland and is in wind-down following the announced sale of its business assets in 2015.

 

Notes

15. Litigation and regulatory matters continued

Regulatory matters (including investigations and customer redress programmes)

NatWest Group's businesses and financial condition can be affected by the actions of various governmental and regulatory authorities in the UK, the US, the EU and elsewhere. NatWest Group has engaged, and will continue to engage, in discussions with relevant governmental and regulatory authorities, including in the UK, the US, the EU and elsewhere, on an ongoing and regular basis, and in response to informal and formal inquiries or investigations, regarding operational, systems and control evaluations and issues including those related to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including consumer protection, investment advice, business conduct, competition/anti-trust, VAT recovery, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering and sanctions regimes. NatWest Group expects government and regulatory intervention in financial services to be high for the foreseeable future, including increased scrutiny from competition and other regulators in the retail and SME business sectors.

NWM Group in particular has been providing information regarding a variety of matters, including, for example, offering of securities, the setting of benchmark rates and related derivatives trading, conduct in the foreign exchange market, product mis-selling and various issues relating to the issuance, underwriting, and sales and trading of fixed-income securities, including structured products and government securities, some of which have resulted, and others of which may result, in investigations or proceedings.

Any matters discussed or identified during such discussions and inquiries may result in, among other things, further inquiry or investigation, other action being taken by governmental and regulatory authorities, increased costs being incurred by NatWest Group, remediation of systems and controls, public or private censure, restriction of NatWest Group's business activities and/or fines. Any of the events or circumstances mentioned in this paragraph or below could have a material adverse effect on NatWest Group, its business, authorisations and licences, reputation, results of operations or the price of securities issued by it, or lead to material additional provisions being taken.

NatWest Group is co-operating fully with the matters described below.

US investigations relating to fixed-income securities

In December 2021, NWM Plc pled guilty in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut to one count of wire fraud and one count of securities fraud in connection with historical spoofing conduct by former employees in US Treasuries markets between January 2008 and May 2014 and, separately, during approximately three months in 2018. The 2018 trading occurred during the term of a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) between NWMSI and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut (USAO CT), under which non-prosecution was conditioned on NWMSI and affiliated companies not engaging in criminal conduct during the term of the NPA. The relevant trading in 2018 was conducted by two NWM traders in Singapore and breached that NPA. The plea agreement reached with the US Department of Justice and the USAO CT resolves both the spoofing conduct and the breach of the NPA. 

As required by the resolution and sentence imposed by the court, NWM Plc is subject to a three-year period of probation and has paid a US$25.2 million criminal fine, approximately US$2.8 million in criminal forfeiture and approximately US$6.8 million in restitution out of existing provisions. The plea agreement also imposes an independent corporate monitor. In addition, NWM Plc has committed to compliance programme reviews and improvements and agreed to reporting and co-operation obligations.

Other material adverse collateral consequences may occur as a result of this matter, as further described in the Risk factor relating to legal, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations set out on page 425 of NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report & Accounts.

RBSI inspection report and referral to enforcement

The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority undertook an inspection at The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited (RBSI), Isle of Man, in 2021, following which it issued an inspection report. The inspection was in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing controls and procedures relating to specific RBSI customers. In May 2022, the FSA notified RBSI that it had been referred to its Enforcement Division in relation to certain issues identified in the inspection report.

Investment advice review

In October 2019, the FCA notified NatWest Group of its intention to appoint a Skilled Person under section 166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to conduct a review of whether NatWest Group's past business review of investment advice provided during 2010 to 2015 was subject to appropriate governance and accountability and led to appropriate customer outcomes. The Skilled Person's review has concluded and, after discussion with the FCA, NatWest Group is now conducting additional review / remediation work.

Review and investigation of treatment of tracker mortgage customers in Ulster Bank Ireland DAC

In December 2015, correspondence was received from the CBI setting out an industry examination framework in respect of the sale of tracker mortgages from approximately 2001 until the end of 2015. The redress and compensation phase has concluded, although an appeals process is currently anticipated to run until the end of 2022. NatWest Group has made provisions totalling €358 million (£308 million), of which €339 million (£292 million) had been utilised by 30 June 2022.

UBIDAC customers have lodged tracker mortgage complaints with the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO). UBIDAC is challenging three FSPO adjudications in the Irish High Court. The outcome and impact of that challenge on those and related complaints is uncertain but may be material.

UBIDAC has identified further legacy business issues and these remediation programmes are ongoing. NatWest Group has made provisions of €201 million (£173 million), of which €158 million (£136 million) had been utilised by 30 June 2022 for these programmes.


Notes

16. Related party transactions

UK Government

The UK Government and bodies controlled or jointly controlled by the UK Government and bodies over which it has significant influence are related parties of NatWest Group. NatWest Group's other transactions with the UK Government include the payment of taxes, principally UK corporation tax and value added tax; national insurance contributions; local authority rates; and regulatory fees and levies (including the bank levy and FSCS levy).

Bank of England facilities

In the ordinary course of business, NatWest Group may from time to time access market-wide facilities provided by the Bank of England.

Other related parties

(a)  In their roles as providers of finance, NatWest Group companies provide development and other types of capital support to businesses. In some instances, the investment may extend to ownership or control over 20% or more of the voting rights of the investee company.

(b)  NatWest Group recharges The NatWest Group Pension Fund with the cost of administration services incurred by it. The amounts involved are not material to NatWest Group.

Full details of NatWest Group's related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2021 are included in NatWest Group plc's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

17. Post balance sheet events

On 22 July 2022, approval was received from the Irish competition authority (the CCPC) in relation to the agreement with PTSB for the sale of UBIDAC's performing non-tracker mortgage portfolio, asset finance business, business direct loan book and 25 branches.

The successful completion of a second tranche of commercial customers to Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c (AIB) was finalised in July 2022.

Other than as disclosed in this document, there have been no significant events between 30 June 2022 and the date of approval of this announcement which would require a change to, or additional disclosure, in the announcement.

 

18. Date of approval

This announcement was approved by the Board of Directors on 28 July 2022.


Independent review report to NatWest Group plc

 

Conclusion

We have been engaged by NatWest Group ("the Group")  to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2022 which comprises of the condensed consolidated income statement, the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the condensed consolidated balance sheet, the condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity, the condensed consolidated cash flow statement, related Notes 1 to 18 and the Risk and capital management disclosures for those identified as within the scope of our review (together "the condensed consolidated financial statements"). We have read the other information contained in the half yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

 

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2022 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34 and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

 

Basis for conclusion

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Financial Reporting Council. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

 

As disclosed in Note 1, the annual financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standards. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting".

 

Conclusions relating to Going Concern

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Basis for conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that management have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that management have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed.

 

This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with this International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK), however future events or conditions may cause the entity to cease to continue as a going concern.

 

Responsibilities of the directors

The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

 

In preparing the half-yearly financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

 

Auditor's responsibilities for the review of the financial information

In reviewing the half-yearly report, we are responsible for expressing to the Group a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions relating to Going Concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the Basis for conclusion paragraph of this report.

 

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Group in accordance with guidance contained in International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Financial Reporting Council. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Group, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

 

Ernst & Young LLP

London, United Kingdom

28 July 2022



 


NatWest Group plc Summary Risk Factors

Summary of Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Set out below is a summary of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year which could adversely affect NatWest Group. This summary should not be regarded as a complete and comprehensive statement of all potential risks and uncertainties; a fuller description of these and other risk factors is included on pages 406 to 426 of the NatWest Group plc 2021 Annual Report and Accounts and pages 136 to 157 of NatWest Group plc's 2021 Form 20-F. Any of the risks identified may have a material adverse effect on NatWest Group's business, operations, financial condition or prospects.

 

Economic and political risk

-  NatWest Group faces continued economic and political risks and uncertainty in the UK and global markets, including as a result of high inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain disruption and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

-  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related uncertainties continue to affect the UK, global economies and financial markets and NatWest Group's customers, as well as its competitive environment, which may continue to have an adverse effect on NatWest Group.

-  Continuing uncertainty regarding the effects and extent of the UK's post Brexit divergence from EU laws and regulation, and NatWest Group's post Brexit EU operating model may continue to adversely affect NatWest Group and its operating environment.

-  Changes in interest rates have significantly affected and will continue to affect NatWest Group's business and results.

-  Changes in foreign currency exchange rates may affect NatWest Group's results and financial position.

-  HM Treasury (or UKGI on its behalf) could exercise a significant degree of influence over NatWest Group and further offers or sales of NatWest Group's shares held by HM Treasury may affect the price of NatWest Group securities.

Strategic risk

-  NatWest Group continues to implement its purpose-led strategy, which carries significant execution and operational risks and may not achieve its stated aims and targeted outcomes.

-  NatWest Group continues to refocus its NWM franchise, which entails material execution, commercial and operational risks and the intended benefits for NatWest Group may not be realised within the timeline and in the manner currently contemplated.

-  Trends relating to the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect NatWest Group's strategy and impair its ability to meet its targets and strategic objectives.

 

Financial resilience risk

-  NatWest Group may not meet the targets it communicates or be in a position to continue to make discretionary capital distributions (including dividends to shareholders).

-  NatWest Group operates in markets that are highly competitive, with increasing competitive pressures and technology disruption.

-  The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the credit quality of NatWest Group's counterparties may negatively impact NatWest Group.

-  NatWest Group has significant exposure to counterparty and borrower risk.

-  NatWest Group may not meet the prudential regulatory requirements for capital and MREL, or manage its capital effectively, which could trigger the execution of certain management actions or recovery options.

-  NatWest Group is subject to Bank of England and PRA oversight in respect of resolution. Following submission of a biennial assessment of NatWest Group's preparations for resolution to the PRA, the Bank of England has not identified any shortcomings, deficiencies or substantive impediments associated with NatWest Group's ability to achieve resolvability outcomes, but has highlighted two areas as requiring further enhancements. NatWest Group could be adversely affected should future Bank of England assessments deem NatWest Group's preparations to be inadequate.

-  NatWest Group may not be able to adequately access sources of liquidity and funding.

-  Any reduction in the credit rating and/or outlooks assigned to NatWest Group plc, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective debt securities could adversely affect the availability of funding for NatWest Group, reduce NatWest Group's liquidity position and increase the cost of funding.

-  NatWest Group may be adversely affected if it fails to meet the requirements of regulatory stress tests.

-  NatWest Group's results could be adversely affected if an event triggers the recognition of a goodwill impairment. NatWest Group capitalises goodwill, which is calculated as the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired. Acquired goodwill is recognised at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. As required by IFRS, NatWest Group tests goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently when events or circumstances indicate that it might be impaired.

-  NatWest Group could incur losses or be required to maintain higher levels of capital as a result of limitations or failure of various models.

-  NatWest Group's financial statements are sensitive to the underlying accounting policies, judgments, estimates and assumptions



 

NatWest Group plc Summary Risk Factors

Summary of Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

-  Changes in accounting standards may materially impact NatWest Group's financial results.

-  The value or effectiveness of any credit protection that NatWest Group has purchased depends on the value of the underlying assets and the financial condition of the insurers and counterparties.

-  NatWest Group may become subject to the application of UK statutory stabilisation or resolution powers which may result in, among other actions, the cancellation, transfer or dilution of ordinary shares, or the write-down or conversion of certain other of NatWest Group's securities.

 

Climate and sustainability-related risks

-  NatWest Group and its customers, suppliers and counterparties face significant climate-related risks, including in transitioning to a net zero economy, which may adversely impact NatWest Group.

-  NatWest Group's purpose-led strategy includes climate change as one of its three areas of focus and, following the passing of a 'Say on Climate' resolution by NatWest Group's shareholders in April 2022, NatWest Group is required to publish an initial climate transition plan in 2023. NatWest Group's climate strategy and transition plan entails significant execution and reputational risk and is unlikely to be achieved without internal and external actions including significant government policy, technology and customer changes.

-  Any failure by NatWest Group to prepare or execute a credible transition plan or implement effective and compliant climate change resilient systems, controls and procedures could adversely affect NatWest Group's reputation or its ability to manage climate-related risks.

-  There are significant challenges in relation to climate-related data due to quality and other limitations, lack of standardisation, consistency and incompleteness which amongst other factors contribute to the significant uncertainties inherent in accurately modelling the impact of climate-related risks.

-  A failure to adapt NatWest Group's business strategy, governance, procedures, systems and controls to manage emerging sustainability-related risks and opportunities may have a material adverse effect on NatWest Group, its reputation, business, results of operations and outlook.

-  Any reduction in the ESG ratings of NatWest Group could have a negative impact on NatWest Group's reputation and on investors' risk appetite and customers' willingness to deal with NatWest Group.

-  Increasing levels of climate, environmental and sustainability-related laws, regulation and oversight may adversely affect NatWest Group's business and expose NatWest Group to increased costs of compliance, regulatory sanction and reputational damage.

-  NatWest Group may be subject to potential climate, environmental and other sustainability-related litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations and conduct risk.

 

Operational and IT resilience risk

-  Operational risks (including reliance on third party suppliers and outsourcing of certain activities) are inherent in NatWest Group's businesses.

-  NatWest Group is subject to increasingly sophisticated and frequent cyberattacks.

-  NatWest Group operations and strategy are highly dependent on the accuracy and effective use of data.

-  NatWest Group's operations are highly dependent on its complex IT systems (including those that enable remote working) and any IT failure could adversely affect NatWest Group.

-  Remote working may adversely affect NatWest Group's ability to maintain effective internal controls.

-  NatWest Group relies on attracting, retaining and developing diverse senior management and skilled personnel, and is required to maintain good employee relations.

-  A failure in NatWest Group's risk management framework could adversely affect NatWest Group, including its ability to achieve its strategic objectives.

-  NatWest Group's operations are subject to inherent reputational risk.

 

Legal, regulatory and conduct risk

-  NatWest Group's businesses are subject to substantial regulation and oversight, which are constantly evolving and may adversely affect NatWest Group.

-  NatWest Group is exposed to the risks of various litigation matters, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations as well as remedial undertakings, including conduct-related reviews, anti-money laundering and redress projects, the outcomes of which are inherently difficult to predict, and which could have an adverse effect on NatWest Group.

-  NatWest Group may not effectively manage the transition of LIBOR and other IBOR rates to alternative risk-free rates.

-  Changes in tax legislation or failure to generate future taxable profits may impact the recoverability of certain deferred tax assets recognised by NatWest Group.

 

 


Statement of directors' responsibilities

 

We, the directors listed below, confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

-  the condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting', as adopted by the UK and as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB);

-  the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R (indication of important events during the first six months and description of principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year); and

-  the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.8R (disclosure of related parties' transactions and changes therein).

 

 

By order of the Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Howard Davies

Alison Rose-Slade

Katie Murray

Chairman

Group Chief Executive Officer

Group Chief Financial Officer

 

28 July 2022

 

 

Board of directors

 

Chairman

Executive directors

Non-executive directors

Howard Davies

Alison Rose-Slade

Katie Murray

 

 

Frank Dangeard

Patrick Flynn

Morten Friis

Robert Gillespie

Yasmin Jetha

Mike Rogers

Mark Seligman

Lena Wilson

 

 

 

 

Presentation of information

In this document, 'parent company' refers to the NatWest Group plc, and 'NatWest Group' or the 'Group' refers to NatWest Group plc and its subsidiaries. The term 'NWH Group' refers to NatWest Holdings Limited ('NWH') and its subsidiary and associated undertakings.   The term 'NWM Group' refers to NatWest Markets Plc ('NWM Plc') and its subsidiary and associated undertakings.   The term 'NWM N.V.' refers to NatWest Markets N.V. The term 'NWMSI' refers to NatWest Markets Securities, Inc. The term 'RBS plc' refers to The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.   The term 'NWB Plc' refers to National Westminster Bank Plc.   The term 'UBIDAC' refers to Ulster Bank Ireland DAC.   'Go-forward group' excludes Ulster Bank RoI and discontinued operations.

NatWest Group publishes its financial statements in pounds sterling ('£' or 'sterling'). The abbreviations '£m' and '£bn' represent millions and thousands of millions of pounds sterling, respectively, and references to 'pence' or 'p' represent pence where the amounts are denominated in pounds sterling ('GBP'). Reference to 'dollars' or '$' are to United States of America ('US') dollars. The abbreviations '$m' and '$bn' represent millions and thousands of millions of dollars, respectively. The abbreviation '€' represents the 'euro', and the abbreviations '€m' and '€bn' represent millions and thousands of millions of euros, respectively.

On 27 January 2022, NatWest Group announced that a new franchise, Commercial & Institutional, would be created, bringing

together the Commercial, NatWest Markets and RBSI businesses to form a single franchise, with common management and

objectives, to best support our customers across the full non-personal customer lifecycle. Comparatives have been re-presented in

this document. Refer to the re-segmentation document published on 22 April 2022 for further details. The re-presentation of

operating segments does not change the consolidated financial results of NatWest Group.

 

Statutory accounts

Financial information contained in this document does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006 ('the Act'). The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those statutory accounts was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis and did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Act.

MAR - Inside Information

This announcement contains information that qualified or may have qualified as inside information for NatWest Group plc, for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR) as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 for NatWest Group plc. This announcement is made by Alexander Holcroft, Head of Investor Relations for NatWest Group plc.

Forward-looking statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements that include, without limitation, the words 'expect', 'estimate', 'project', 'anticipate', 'commit', 'believe', 'should', 'intend', 'will', 'plan', 'could', 'probability', 'risk', 'Value-at-Risk (VaR)', 'target', 'goal', 'objective', 'may', 'endeavour', 'outlook', 'optimistic', 'prospects' and similar expressions or variations on these expressions. These statements concern or may affect future matters, such as NatWest Group's future economic results, business plans and strategies. In particular, this document may include forward-looking statements relating to NatWest Group plc in respect of, but not limited to: its economic and political risks, its regulatory capital position and related requirements, its financial position, profitability and financial performance (including financial, capital, cost savings and operational targets), the implementation of its purpose-led strategy, its ESG and climate related targets, its access to adequate sources of liquidity and funding, increasing competition from new incumbents and disruptive technologies, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, its exposure to third party risks, its ongoing compliance with the UK ring-fencing regime and ensuring operational continuity in resolution, its impairment losses and credit exposures under certain specified scenarios, substantial regulation and oversight, ongoing legal, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations, the transition of LIBOR and IBOR rates to alternative risk free rates and NatWest Group's exposure to operational risk, conduct risk, cyber, data and IT risk, financial crime risk, key person risk and credit rating risk. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that might cause actual results and performance to differ materially from any expected future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences in current expectations include, but are not limited to, future growth initiatives (including acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships), the outcome of legal, regulatory and governmental actions and investigations, the level and extent of future impairments and write-downs (including with respect to goodwill), legislative, political, fiscal and regulatory developments, accounting standards, competitive conditions, technological developments, interest and exchange rate fluctuations, general economic and political conditions, the impact of climate-related risks and the transitioning to a net zero economy and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These and other factors, risks and uncertainties that may impact any forward-looking statement or NatWest Group plc's actual results are discussed in NatWest Group plc's UK 2021 Annual Report and Accounts (ARA), NatWest Group plc's Interim Results for Q1 2022 and H1 2022 and NatWest Group plc's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, NatWest Group plc's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Reports on Form 6-K. The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as of the date of this document and NatWest Group plc does not assume or undertake any obligation or responsibility to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent legally required.



 


Additional information

Share information


30 June  

2022  

31 March  

2022  

31 December  

2021  


 



Ordinary share price (pence)

218.30

215.90

225.70

 

 



Number of ordinary shares in issue (millions)

10,583

10,783

11,468

 

Financial calendar

2022 third quarter interim management statement

28 October 2022

 

Contacts

Analyst enquiries:  Alexander Holcroft, Investor Relations   +44 (0) 20 7672 1758

Media enquiries:   NatWest Group Press Office  +44 (0) 131 523 4205

 

 

 

 

Management presentation

Fixed income call

Date:

Friday 29 July 2022

Friday 29 July 2022

Time:

9.30am

1.00pm

Zoom ID:

958 4410 8428

939 1342 1434

 

Available on natwestgroup.com/results

- 

Interim Results 2022 and background slides.

- 

A financial supplement containing income statement, balance sheet and segment performance information for the nine quarters ended 30 June 2022.

- 

NatWest Group Pillar 3 supplement at 30 June 2022.



 

F2A4E6A5-86EA-4413-90D6-619423C4A8DF|3|Oracle.SmartView.EPRCS|{f4eb9b77-3713-4609-adc8-469fa18b7326}

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix

 

Non-IFRS financial measures

 

 

 


Non-IFRS financial measures

NatWest Group prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). This document contains a number of adjusted or alternative performance measures, also known as non-GAAP or non-IFRS performance measures. These measures are adjusted for notable and other defined items which management believes are not representative of the underlying performance of the business and which distort period-on-period comparison. The non-IFRS measures provide users of the financial statements with a consistent basis for comparing business performance between financial periods and information on elements of performance that are one-off in nature. The non-IFRS measures also include the calculation of metrics that are used throughout the banking industry. These non-IFRS measures are not measures within the scope of IFRS and are not a substitute for IFRS measures.

Non-IFRS financial measures

1. Go-forward group income excluding notable items

Go-forward group income excluding notable items is calculated as total income excluding Ulster Bank RoI total income and excluding notable items.

The exclusion of notable items aims to remove the impact of one-offs which may distort period-on-period comparisons.


Half year ended


Quarter ended


30 June

30 June


30 June

31 March

30 June

 

2022

2021


2022

2022

2021

 

£m

£m


£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 



 



Total income

6,219

5,141


3,211

3,008

2,571

Less Ulster Bank RoI total income

(33)

(65)


(12)

(21)

(30)

Go-forward group income

6,186

5,076


3,199

2,987

2,541

Less notable items

(321)

(30)


(97)

(224)

(39)

Go-forward group income excluding notable items

5,865

5,046


3,102

2,763

2,502

 

2. Go-forward group other operating expenses

Other operating expenses is calculated as total operating expenses less litigation and conduct costs. Other operating expenses of the Go-forward group excludes Ulster Bank RoI.

Our cost target for 2022 is based on this measure and we track progress against it.


Half year ended


Quarter ended


30 June

30 June


30 June

31 March

30 June

 

2022

2021


2022

2022

2021

 

£m

£m


£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 



 



Total operating expenses

3,653

3,499


1,833

1,820

1,695

Less litigation and conduct costs

(169)

18


(67)

(102)

34

Other operating expenses

3,484

3,517


1,766

1,718

1,729

Less Ulster Bank RoI other operating expenses

(243)

(226)


(130)

(113)

(121)

Go-forward group other operating expenses

3,241

3,291


1,636

1,605

1,608

 

 

3. Go-forward group profit before impairment releases/(losses)

Go-forward group profit before impairment releases/(losses) is calculated as total profit before impairment releases/(losses) less Ulster Bank RoI loss before impairment (losses)/releases.

 


Half year ended


Quarter ended


30 June

30 June


30 June

31 March

30 June

 

2022

2021


2022

2022

2021

 

£m

£m


£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 



 



Profit before impairment releases/(losses)

2,566

1,642


1,378

1,188

876

Less Ulster Bank RoI loss before

 



 



  impairment (losses)/releases

221

174


129

92

95

Go-forward group profit before impairment

 



 



  releases/(losses)

2,787

1,816


1,507

1,280

971

 

.


Non-IFRS financial measures

4. Operating expenses - management view

The management analysis of operating expenses shows litigation and conduct costs on a separate line. These amounts are included within staff costs and other administrative expenses in the statutory analysis. Other operating expenses excludes litigation and conduct costs, which are more volatile and may distort comparisons with prior periods.

 

Half year ended

 

30 June 2022

 

Litigation and

Other operating  

Statutory operating

 

conduct costs

expenses

expenses

Operating expenses

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 

 

 

Staff costs

18

1,790

1,808

Premises and equipment

-

534

534

Depreciation and amortisation

-

413

413

Other administrative expenses

151

747

898

Total  

169

3,484

3,653

 




 

Half year ended

 

30 June 2021

 

Litigation and

Other operating

Statutory operating

 

conduct costs

expenses

expenses

Operating expenses

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations




Staff costs

-

1,880

1,880

Premises and equipment

-

502

502

Depreciation and amortisation

-

414

414

Other administrative expenses

(18)

721

703

Total  

(18)

3,517

3,499

 




 

Quarter ended

 

30 June 2022

 

Litigation and

Other operating

Statutory operating

 

conduct costs

expenses

expenses

Operating expenses

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 

 

 

Staff costs

11

896

907

Premises and equipment

-

283

283

Depreciation and amortisation

-

216

216

Other administrative expenses

56

371

427

Total  

67

1,766

1,833

 




 

Quarter ended

 

31 March 2022

 

Litigation and

Other operating

Statutory operating

 

conduct costs

expenses

expenses

Operating expenses

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations




Staff costs

7

894

901

Premises and equipment

-

251

251

Depreciation and amortisation

-

197

197

Other administrative expenses

95

376

471

Total  

102

1,718

1,820






Quarter ended


30 June 2021


Litigation and

Other operating

Statutory operating


conduct costs

expenses

expenses

Operating expenses

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations




Staff costs

-

906

906

Premises and equipment

-

254

254

Depreciation and amortisation

-

209

209

Other administrative expenses

(34)

360

326

Total  

(34)

1,729

1,695

 



 

Non-IFRS financial measures

5. Cost:income ratio

The cost:income ratio is calculated as total operating expenses less operating lease depreciation divided by total income less operating lease depreciation.

This is a common metric used to compare profitability across the banking industry.

 

Go-forward group

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central

Total excluding

 

Total

 

Retail

Private

Commercial &

items

Ulster

Ulster  

NatWest

 

Banking

Banking

Institutional

& other

Bank RoI

Bank RoI

Group

Half year ended 30 June 2022

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

(1,242)

(285)

(1,820)

(52)

(3,399)

(254)

(3,653)

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

64

-

64

-

64

Adjusted operating expenses

(1,242)

(285)

(1,756)

(52)

(3,335)

(254)

(3,589)

Total income

2,554

461

2,937

234

6,186

33

6,219

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

(64)

-

(64)

-

(64)

Adjusted total income

2,554

461

2,873

234

6,122

33

6,155

Cost:income ratio

48.6%

61.8%

61.1%

nm

54.5%

nm

58.3%









Half year ended 30 June 2021








Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

(1,187)

(249)

(1,824)

-

(3,260)

(239)

(3,499)

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

70

-

70

-

70

Adjusted operating expenses

(1,187)

(249)

(1,754)

-

(3,190)

(239)

(3,429)

Total income

2,150

368

2,474

84

5,076

65

5,141

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

(70)

-

(70)

-

(70)

Adjusted total income

2,150

368

2,404

84

5,006

65

5,071

Cost:income ratio

55.2%

67.7%

73.0%

nm

63.7%

nm

67.6%

 

Quarter ended 30 June 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses

(597)

(146)

(898)

(51)

(1,692)

(141)

(1,833)

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

32

-

32

-

32

Adjusted operating expenses

(597)

(146)

(866)

(51)

(1,660)

(141)

(1,801)

Total income

1,337

245

1,562

55

3,199

12

3,211

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

(32)

-

(32)

-

(32)

Adjusted total income

1,337

245

1,530

55

3,167

12

3,179

Cost:income ratio

44.7%

59.6%

56.6%

nm

52.4%

nm

56.7%









Quarter ended 31 March 2022








Continuing operations








Operating expenses

(645)

(139)

(922)

(1)

(1,707)

(113)

(1,820)

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

32

-

32

-

32

Adjusted operating expenses

(645)

(139)

(890)

(1)

(1,675)

(113)

(1,788)

Total income

1,217

216

1,375

179

2,987

21

3,008

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

(32)

-

(32)

-

(32)

Adjusted total income

1,217

216

1,343

179

2,955

21

2,976

Cost:income ratio

53.0%

64.4%

66.3%

nm

56.7%

nm

60.1%









Quarter ended 30 June 2021








Continuing operations








Operating expenses

(600)

(128)

(909)

67

(1,570)

(125)

(1,695)

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

35

-

35

-

35

Adjusted operating expenses

(600)

(128)

(874)

67

(1,535)

(125)

(1,660)

Total income

1,094

183

1,221

43

2,541

30

2,571

Operating lease depreciation

-

-

(35)

-

(35)

-

(35)

Adjusted total income

1,094

183

1,186

43

2,506

30

2,536

Cost:income ratio

54.8%

69.9%

73.7%

nm

61.3%

nm

65.5%

 



 

Non-IFRS financial measures

6. NatWest Group return on tangible equity

Return on tangible equity comprises annualised profit or loss for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by average tangible equity. Average tangible equity is average total equity excluding average non-controlling interests, average other owners equity and average intangible assets.

Go-forward group return on tangible equity is calculated as annualised profit for the period less Ulster Bank RoI divided by Go-forward group total tangible equity. Go forward RWAe applying factor is the Go- forward group average RWAe as a percentage of total Natwest Group average RWAe.

This measure shows the return NatWest Group generates on tangible equity deployed. It is used to determine relative performance of banks and used widely across the sector, although different banks may calculate the rate differently.


Half year ended  

 

 


and as at

 

Quarter ended and as at


30 June

30 June

 

30 June

31 March

30 June


2022

2021

 

2022

2022

2021

NatWest Group return on tangible equity

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders

1,891

1,842


1,050

841

1,222

Annualised profit attributable to ordinary shareholders  

3,782

3,684

 

4,200

3,364

4,888


 


 

 



Average total equity  

39,857

43,375

 

38,625

40,934

43,011

Adjustment for other owners' equity and intangibles  

(11,037)

(11,934)

 

(10,944)

(11,067)

(11,712)

Adjusted total tangible equity

28,820

31,441

 

27,681

29,867

31,299


 


 

 



Return on tangible equity  

13.1%

11.7%

 

15.2%

11.3%

15.6%


 


 

 



Go-forward group return on tangible equity

 


 

 



Profit attributable to ordinary shareholders

1,891

1,842

 

1,050

841

1,222

Less Ulster Bank RoI loss from continuing operations, net of tax

212

218

 

149

63

126

Less profit from discontinued operations

(190)

(177)

 

(127)

(63)

(83)

Go-forward group profit attributable to ordinary shareholders

1,913

1,883

 

1,072

841

1,265

Annualised go-forward group profit attributable

 


 

 



  to ordinary shareholders

3,826

3,766

 

4,288

3,364

5,060


 


 

 



Average total equity

39,857

43,375

 

38,625

40,934

43,011

Adjustment for other owners' equity and intangibles

(11,037)

(11,934)

 

(10,944)

(11,067)

(11,712)

Adjusted total tangible equity

28,820

31,441

 

27,681

29,867

31,299

Go-forward group RWAe applying factor

94%

93%

 

94%

95%

93%

Go-forward group total tangible equity

27,091

29,240

 

26,020

28,374

29,108


 


 

 



Go-forward group return on tangible equity

14.1%

12.8%

 

16.5%

11.9%

17.3%



 

Non-IFRS financial measures

7. Segmental return on equity

Segmental return on equity comprises segmental operating profit or loss, adjusted for preference share dividends and tax, divided by average notional equity. Average RWAe is defined as average segmental RWAs incorporating the effect of capital deductions. This is multiplied by an allocated equity factor for each segment to calculate the average notional tangible equity.

This measure shows the return generated by operating segments on equity deployed.

 

Retail

Private

Commercial &

Half year ended 30 June 2022

Banking

Banking

Institutional

Operating profit (£m)

1,286

187

1,176

Paid-in equity cost allocation (£m)

(40)

(6)

(93)

Adjustment for tax (£m)

(349)

(51)

(271)

Adjusted attributable profit (£m)

897

130

812

Annualised adjusted attributable profit (£m)

1,794

261

1,624

Average RWAe (£bn)

52.5

11.3

101.7

Equity factor  

13.0%

11.0%

14.0%

Average notional equity (£bn)

6.8

1.2

14.2

Return on equity (%)

26.3%

20.9%

11.4%





Half year ended 30 June 2021




Operating profit (£m)

1,020

146

1,263

Preference share and paid-in equity cost allocation (£m)

(40)

(10)

(118)

Adjustment for tax (£m)

(274)

(38)

(286)

Adjusted attributable profit (£m)

706

98

859

Annualised adjusted attributable profit (£m)

1,412

196

1,718

Average RWAe (£bn)

35.4

11.0

108.9

Equity factor  

14.5%

12.5%

13.0%

Average notional equity (£bn)

5.1

1.4

14.2

Return on equity (%)

27.5%

14.2%

12.1%

 

 

Retail

Private

Commercial &

Quarter ended 30 June 2022

Banking

Banking

Institutional

Operating profit (£m)

719

105

712

Paid-in equity cost allocation (£m)

(20)

(3)

(47)

Adjustment for tax (£m)

(196)

(29)

(166)

Adjusted attributable profit (£m)

503

73

499

Annualised adjusted attributable profit (£m)

2,012

293

1,996

Average RWAe (£bn)

52.4

11.3

101.0

Equity factor  

13.0%

11.0%

14.0%

Average notional equity (£bn)

6.8

1.2

14.1

Return on equity (%)

29.5%

23.5%

14.0%





Quarter ended 31 March 2022




Operating profit (£m)

567

82

464

Paid-in equity cost allocation (£m)

(20)

(3)

(46)

Adjustment for tax (£m)

(153)

(22)

(105)

Adjusted attributable profit (£m)

394

57

314

Annualised adjusted attributable profit (£m)

1,576

228

1,256

Average RWAe (£bn)

52.6

11.4

102.0

Equity factor  

13.0%

11.0%

14.0%

Average notional equity (£bn)

6.8

1.3

14.3

Return on equity (%)

23.1%

18.2%

8.8%





Quarter ended 30 June 2021




Operating profit (£m)

585

82

800

Preference share and paid-in equity cost allocation (£m)

(20)

(5)

(59)

Adjustment for tax (£m)

(158)

(22)

(185)

Adjusted attributable profit (£m)

407

55

556

Annualised adjusted attributable profit (£m)

1,628

220

2,223

Average RWAe (£bn)

35.1

11.1

107.6

Equity factor  

14.5%

12.5%

13.0%

Average notional equity (£bn)

5.1

1.4

14.0

Return on equity (%)

32.0%

15.9%

15.9%

 

 

Non-IFRS financial measures

8. Bank net interest margin

Bank net interest margin is defined as annualised net interest income of the Go-forward group, as a percentage of bank average interest-earning assets. Bank average interest earning assets are the average interest earning assets of the banking business of the Go-forward group excluding liquid asset buffer.

Liquid asset buffer consists of assets held by NatWest Group, such as cash and balances at central banks and debt securities in issue, that can be used to ensure repayment of financial obligations as they fall due. The exclusion of liquid asset buffer presents net interest margin on a basis more comparable with UK peers and excludes the impact of regulatory driven factors.

 

Half year ended

 

Quarter ended

 

30 June

30 June

 

30 June

31 March

30 June

 

2022

2021

 

2022

2022

2021

Go-forward group

£m

£m

 

£m

£m

£m

Continuing operations

 


 

 



NatWest Group net interest income

4,334

3,744


2,307

2,027

1,900

Less Ulster Bank RoI net interest income

(6)

(15)


(2)

(4)

(8)

Bank net interest income

4,328

3,729


2,305

2,023

1,892


 



 



Annualised NatWest Group net interest income

8,740

7,550

 

9,253

8,221

7,621

Annualised bank net interest income  

8,728

7,520

 

9,245

8,204

7,589


 



 



Average interest earning assets (IEA)

546,045

503,624


548,371

543,697

510,517

Less Ulster Bank RoI average IEA

(1,564)

(2,216)


(1,544)

(1,584)

(2,336)

Less liquid asset buffer average IEA

(207,583)

(180,791)


(206,843)

(208,764)

(185,210)

Bank average IEA  

336,898

320,617


339,984

333,349

322,971


 



 



Bank net interest margin

2.59%

2.35%


2.72%

2.46%

2.35%


 



 



Retail Banking

 



 



Net interest income

2,340

1,976


1,228

1,112

1,003

Annualised net interest income

4,719

3,985


4,925

4,510

4,023


 



 



Retail Banking average IEA

186,813

176,327


188,081

185,531

177,297

Less liquid asset buffer average IEA

-

-


-

-

-

Adjusted Retail Banking average IEA

186,813

176,327


188,081

185,531

177,297


 



 



Retail Banking net interest margin

2.53%

2.26%


2.62%

2.43%

2.27%


 



 



Private Banking

 



 



Net interest income

315

232


172

143

117

Annualised net interest income

635

468


690

580

469


 



 



Private Banking average IEA

19,006

17,886


19,144

18,867

18,081

Less liquid asset buffer average IEA

-

-


-

-

-

Adjusted Private Banking average IEA

19,006

17,886


19,144

18,867

18,081


 



 



Private Banking net interest margin

3.34%

2.62%


3.60%

3.07%

2.60%


 



 



Commercial & Institutional

 



 



Net interest income

1,764

1,487


961

803

762

Annualised net interest income

3,557

2,999


3,855

3,257

3,056


 



 



Commercial & Institutional average IEA

125,188

120,462


124,940

120,985

121,049

Less liquid asset buffer average IEA

-

-


-

-

-

Adjusted Commercial & Institutional average IEA

125,188

120,462


124,940

120,985

121,049


 



 



Commercial & Institutional net interest margin

2.84%

2.49%


3.09%

2.69%

2.52%

 



 

Non-IFRS financial measures

9. Tangible net asset value (TNAV) per ordinary share

TNAV per ordinary share is calculated as tangible equity divided by the number of ordinary shares in issue.

This is a measure used by external analysts in valuing the bank and allows for comparison with other per ordinary share metrics including the share price.  

 




As at

 




30 June

31 March

31 December

 




2022

2022

2021

 




£bn

£bn

£bn

Ordinary shareholders' interests (£m)




34,727

35,345

37,412

Less intangible assets (£m)




(6,869)

(6,774)

(6,723)

Tangible equity (£m)




27,858

28,571

30,689





 



Ordinary shares in issue (millions)




10,436

10,622

11,272





 



TNAV per ordinary share (pence)




267p

269p

272p

 

10. Go-forward group net lending

NatWest Group net lending is calculated as total loans to customers less loan impairment provisions. Go-forward group net lending is calculated as net loans to customers less Ulster Bank RoI net loans to customers.





As at





30 June

31 March

31 December

 




2022

2022

2021

 




£bn

£bn

£bn

Total loans to customers (amortised cost)




366.0

368.9

362.8

Less loan impairment provisions




(3.4)

(3.6)

(3.8)

Net loans to customers (amortised cost)




362.6

365.3

359.0

Less Ulster Bank RoI net loans to customers (amortised cost)



(1.0)

(6.3)

(6.7)

Go-forward group net lending




361.6

359.0

352.3

 

11. Go-forward group customer deposits

Go-forward group customer deposits is calculated as total customer deposits less Ulster Bank RoI customer deposits.





As at





30 June

31 March

31 December

 




2022

2022

2021

 




£bn

£bn

£bn

Total customer deposits




492.1

482.9

479.8

Less Ulster Bank RoI customer deposits




(15.9)

(17.3)

(18.4)

Go-forward group customer deposits




476.2

465.6

461.4

 

 

 



 

Performance metrics not defined under IFRS

Metrics based on GAAP measures, included as not defined under IFRS and reported for compliance with the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) adjusted performance measure rules.

1. Loan:deposit ratio

Loan:deposit ratio is calculated as net customer loans held at amortised cost excluding reverse repos divided by total customer deposits excluding repos. Prior periods have been re-presented.

This is a common metric used to assess liquidity. The removal of repos and reverse repos reduces volatility and presents the ratio on a basis that is comparable to UK peers.

 

 

 

As at

 

 


 

30 June

31 March

30 June

 

 


 

2022

2022

2021

 

 


 

£bn

£bn

£bn

Loans to customers - amortised cost




362,551

365,340

362,711

Less reverse repos




(25,084)

(26,780)

(22,706)





337,467

338,560

340,005





 



Customer deposits




492,075

482,887

467,214

Less repos




(19,195)

(16,166)

(16,751)





472,880

466,721

450,463





 



Loan:deposit ratio (%)




71%

73%

75%

 

2. Loan impairment rate

Loan impairment rate is the annualised loan impairment charge divided by gross customer loans.

3. Funded assets

Funded assets is calculated as total assets less derivative assets.

This measure allows review of balance sheet trends exclusive of the volatility associated with derivative fair values. 

4. AUMAs

AUMA comprises both assets under management (AUMs) and assets under administration (AUAs) serviced through the Private Banking franchise. AUMs comprise assets where the investment management is undertaken by Private Banking on behalf of Private Banking, Retail Banking and Commercial & Institutional customers. AUAs comprise third party assets held on an execution-only basis in custody by Private Banking, Retail Banking and Commercial & Institutional for their customers, for which the execution services are supported by Private Banking. Private Banking receives a fee for providing investment management and execution services to Retail Banking and Commercial & Institutional franchises.

Private   Banking   is the centre of expertise for asset management across NatWest Group servicing all client segments across Retail Banking, Private Banking and Commercial & Institutional Banking.

5. Net new money

Net new money refers to client cash inflows and outflows relating to investment products (this can include transfers from saving accounts). Net new money excludes the impact of EEA resident client outflows following the UK's exit from the EU.

Net new money is reported and tracked to monitor the business performance of new business inflows and management of existing client withdrawals across Retail Banking, Private Banking and Commercial & Institutional Banking.

6. Wholesale funding

Wholesale funding comprises deposits by banks (excluding repos), debt securities in issue and subordinated liabilities.

Funding risk is the risk of not maintaining a diversified, stable and cost-effective funding base. The disclosure of wholesale funding highlights the extent of our diversification and how we mitigate funding risk.

 

Legal Entity Identifier: 2138005O9XJIJN4JPN90

 

 

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