Guy Stebbings's questions to BARCLAYS (BCS) leadership • Q3 2025
Question
Guy Stebbings from BNP Paribas inquired about the sustainability of the U.S. Consumer Bank's strong top-line growth, specifically regarding the 11.5% NIM and the non-interest income, asking if there were any lumpy items. He also asked about the strong volume in UK mortgages, whether the current gross lending levels are sustainable, and if competitive pressures are impacting new lending spreads.
Answer
Anna Cross, Group Finance Director, Barclays, explained that the U.S. Consumer Bank's performance is driven by operational actions like repricing, increased retail deposits, and a higher proportion of retail balances, which are expected to sustain NIM around 11.5% for Q4 and Q1. She noted non-interest income growth is due to increased volume and improved partner sharing agreements, with some seasonality. For UK mortgages, Ms. Cross highlighted a robust market with strong house purchases and refinancing, supported by Kensington's product breadth and a new broker platform. She cautioned about potential churn compression from five-year fixed-rate mortgages maturing from the 2020-2021 stamp duty holiday period.