Poland's ING Bank Slaski quarterly profit rises nearly 5%, topping estimates (updated)
10/02/2026 06:55
Adds context in paragraph 2, result details and dividend in paragraphs 4-6, parent company's results in paragraph 7 GDANSK, Poland, Feb 10 (Reuters) - ING Bank Slaski INGP.WA, the Polish unit of Dutch banking group ING INGA.AS, reported a 4.8% rise in its fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, as higher lending volumes helped offset margin pressure from central bank rate cuts. Polish banks' earnings have come under pressure from a series of interest rate cuts by the country's central bank, aimed at stimulating the economy. It cut rates six times last year by a total of 175 basis points to 4.00%. The easing followed cooling inflation, which slowed to 2.4% in December, broadly in line with the regulator's target. The bank's net profit rose to 1.37 billion zlotys ($387.7 million) in the fourth quarter, beating a company-compiled consensus estimate of 1.21 billion zlotys. Net interest income for the period rose slightly to 2.30 billion zlotys. The result was also supported by a 5.8% rise in net fee and commission income to 598 million zlotys. The lender's gross loan portfolio grew 8.2% to 181.1 billion zlotys last year. ING Bank Slaski said it planned to pay out a dividend equal to 75% of its net profit for 2025. Its Dutch parent in January also beat quarterly profit expectations and projected improved earnings for the next two years, banking on strong loan and fee growth. ($1 = 3.5341 zlotys) (Reporting by Alicja Surdy, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak) ((AlicjaEwa.Surdy2@thomsonreuters.com;))