Refile: Italy's Bper Q1 profit beats forecast on strong interest, fee income
07/05/2026 06:38
Corrects date, no other changes to text
MILAN, May 7 (Reuters) - BPER Banca EMII.MI on Thursday posted a first-quarter net profit which exceeded market expectations, supported by higher net interest income and fees, as the bank reaped the benefits of its merger with Banca Popolare di Sondrio.
Italy's fifth-largest lender reported a net profit of 549 million euros ($645.13 million) for the three months to March, above a Reuters-compiled analysts forecast of 510 million euros.
Net interest income - a key measure of earnings on loans minus deposit costs - increased to 1.09 billion euros, up around 34% year-on-year, driven by the contribution from the enlarged group.
Net fees climbed to 681 million euros, up about 26% year-on-year, supported by growth in asset management and bancassurance commissions, in line with the bank's focus on expanding fee-generating businesses.
($1 = 0.8510 euros)
(Reporting by Andrea Mandalà, editing by Giulia Segreti)
((andrea.mandala@thomsonreuters.com; +390680307738;))