Total lending up 10% year-on-year, with new lending approvals for business customers in Northern Ireland exceeding £1 billion.
- Deposits up 9% year-on-year and at a record high of over £12 billion. This capacity represents a significant opportunity to further stimulate local economic growth.
- Costs were higher year-on-year due to ongoing investment in technology and wider customer propositions, as well as inflationary pressures.
- Impairments remain low reflecting the strength of the Bank’s loan portfolio.
READ MORE: Danske Bank to welcome 15 new apprentices
Vicky Davies, CEO of Danske Bank UK, commented:
“I am pleased to announce a strong set of financial results for 2025, reporting a 10% increase in total lending alongside record deposit levels. Entering 2026 in a strong financial position enables us to support customers when they need us and to invest in new products and services to enhance customer experience.
“We are committed to empowering businesses to grow, to helping people achieve their homebuying goals, and to continuing to play a key role in growing the Northern Ireland economy.
“In 2025 we supported the local business community with over £1 billion in new lending approvals, an increase of around 35% year-on-year. Notable business deals included growth funding support for local enterprises Andras House hotel group, Vision Fabrications, Manfreight, Hillmount garden centres, Cathedral Eye Clinic, Orto Pizza, Bruce Engineering, Apex Housing Association, Radius Housing and Rural Housing.
“We also attracted over 1,700 new small business customers to Danske Bank and lending approvals for small businesses were up 11% year-on-year.
“In 2025 we maintained our position as a leading provider of mortgages in Northern Ireland, delivering a record £790 million in local mortgage lending approvals - an increase of around 7% year-on-year.
“We expect a healthy level of mortgage lending to continue locally throughout this year - supported by our competitive product offering, a reducing interest rate environment, sustained levels of demand for housing and continued low unemployment rates.
“We continue to grow our business in targeted sectors in Great Britain. Across last year we approved over £320 million in mortgage lending, with British Housing Associations also being supported through around £200 million in lending approvals.
“When it comes to everyday banking in Northern Ireland, we welcomed over 14,000 new personal current account customers and it was noteworthy that around 40% of them were under 18 years old. In 2025 we were also named a Which? Recommended Provider for personal current accounts.
READ MORE: Danske Bank appoints Fiona Browne as its first head of AI
“In addition to our easy-to-use digital banking platforms, Danske Bank customers are supported on the ground through our 24 branches, local contact centre, mortgage advisers, private banking team, business relationship managers, and presence across local banking hubs.
“In 2025 the Bank also reinforced our commitment to the North-West by establishing a new office at Ebrington Plaza in Derry-Londonderry. This Grade A modern office space is now home to our Customer Protection Centre team and serves as a base when required for our local mortgage advisers, small business advisers and agribusiness managers. Last year also saw continued branch investment, including the opening of new more fit for purpose high street premises in Ballymoney – with similar style branch relocations in Coleraine and Lisburn to be completed over the weeks ahead.
“As a leading local bank, we see promoting financial education as part of our role in society. Every year Danske Bank colleagues volunteer to deliver our Money Smart programme to local young people in primary, post-primary and special education schools, as well as community youth groups and charities. I am proud to share that over the past two years we have helped educate more than 19,000 young people in Northern Ireland. “We look forward to the year ahead with optimism and a determination to help customers, colleagues and society thrive.”
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