Strong financial performance with improvements in underlying and statutory profit
· Underlying profit of £4.5 billion, up 8 per cent; underlying return on tangible equity of 16.6 per cent
· Total income 4 per cent higher at £9.3 billion
– Net interest income of £5.9 billion, up 2 per cent with improved margin of 2.82 per cent
– Other income 8 per cent higher at £3.3 billion
· Operating costs 1 per cent lower at £4.0 billion. Market-leading cost:income ratio improved to 45.8 per cent
· Asset quality remains strong with impairment charge of £268 million, asset quality ratio stable at 12 basis points
· Loans and advances increased to £453 billion, including the benefit of the acquisition of MBNA
· Statutory profit before tax 4 per cent higher at £2.5 billion, despite an additional £1 billion of conduct charges in the second quarter, primarily in respect of PPI
· Strong capital generation of c.100 basis points reflecting strong underlying performance with common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.0 per cent (13.5 per cent post dividend); leverage ratio of 4.9 per cent
· Tangible net assets per share of 52.4 pence (31 Dec 2016: 54.8 pence) after payment of 2016 final dividend of 2.2 pence per share and a 1.4 pence per share reduction from the acquisition of MBNA
2017 guidance for NIM and AQR updated, with all other guidance reaffirmed
· Net interest margin for the full year now expected to be close to 2.85 per cent, including MBNA
· Asset quality ratio for the full year now expected to be less than 20 basis points, including MBNA
· Continue to expect 2017 capital generation at the top end of the 170-200 basis points ongoing guidance range
· All other longer term guidance remains unchanged
Increased interim dividend
· Interim ordinary dividend of 1.0 pence per share, up 18 per cent, in line with our progressive and sustainable approach to ordinary dividends