The 2020 final dividend was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 28 April 2021 and the payment made on 4 May 2021 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 26 March 2021. NatWest Group plc announces an interim dividend for 2021 of £347 million, or 3p per ordinary share. The interim dividend will be paid on 17 September 2021 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 13 August 2021. The ex-dividend date will be 12 August 2021.
Other financial highlights include:
H1 2021 operating profit before tax of £2,505 million compared with an operating loss before tax of £770 million in H1 2020. H1 2021 attributable profit of £1,842 million.
Income across the UK and RBSI retail and commercial businesses, excluding notable items, decreased by £160 million, or 3.3%, compared with H1 2020 reflecting the lower yield curve and subdued transactional business activity, partially offset by balance sheet growth. NatWest Markets (NWM) income, excluding asset disposals/strategic risk reduction and OCA, decreased by £492 million, or 59.6%, compared with H1 2020 reflecting the exceptional level of market activity generated by the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the prior period, together with weak performance in the Fixed Income business in the current period.
Bank net interest margin (NIM) of 1.61% decreased by 3 basis points compared with Q1 2021 principally reflecting increased levels of liquidity.
Other expenses, excluding operating lease depreciation (OLD) and Ulster Bank RoI direct costs, were £185 million, or 5.9% lower than H1 2020.
A net impairment release of £707 million in the first half of 2021 mainly reflects releases in non-default portfolios as a result of the improved economic outlook.
CET1 ratio of 18.2% was in line with Q1 2021.
The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of 164%, representing £75.3 billion headroom above 100% minimum requirement, increased by 6 percentage points compared with Q1 2021, reflecting the continued growth in customer deposits.
Net lending increased by £2.2 billion to £362.7 billion during H1 2021. Across the UK and RBSI retail and commercial businesses, net lending excluding UK Government support schemes, increased by £4.1 billion, or 2.8% on an annualised basis, including £7.0 billion of mortgage growth.
Customer deposits increased by £35.5 billion during H1 2021 to £467.2 billon, as customers sought to retain liquidity and reduced spending. Treasury repo activity drove £11.5 billion of balance growth.
RWAs decreased by £7.3 billion to £163.0 billion during H1 2021 mainly reflecting business movements in Commercial Banking.
