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Citizens Financial Group Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 16 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS rose year over year: Net income was $587 million, up 35% year over year. Diluted EPS was $1.30, up 41% year over year and 15% from the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Pre-provision profit rose 13% sequentially: Pre-provision profit was $889 million, up 13% from the prior quarter and 24% from the second quarter of 2025. Total revenue was $2,283 million. Source
  • Private Bank added $0.15 to EPS: Management said the Private Bank contributed $0.15 to diluted EPS, up from $0.11 in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Net interest margin rose to 3.17%: Net interest margin on an FTE basis was 3.17%, up 3 basis points from the first quarter of 2026 and 22 basis points from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Net charge-offs fell to 37 basis points: Net charge-offs were $135 million, or 37 basis points of average loans, down from 39 basis points in the first quarter of 2026 and 48 basis points a year earlier. Source
  • CET1 ratio at 10.4%: The CET1 ratio was 10.4%, compared with 10.5% at March 31, 2026 and 10.6% a year earlier. Tangible book value per share was $38.29. Source

“We delivered an outstanding second quarter, led by strong revenue growth, significant positive operating leverage and favorable credit performance,”

Chairman and CEO Bruce Van Saun

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Dividend SourceQuarterly dividend payable August 13, 2026$0.46 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Launch of a new Consumer mobile platform reported as completed in the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and EPS rose year over year: Net income was $587 million, up 35% year over year. Diluted EPS was $1.30, up 41% year over year and 15% from the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Pre-provision profit rose 13% sequentially: Pre-provision profit was $889 million, up 13% from the prior quarter and 24% from the second quarter of 2025. Total revenue was $2,283 million. Source
  • Positive operating leverage in both comparisons: Operating leverage was 4.1% from the first quarter of 2026 and 6.4% from the second quarter of 2025. The efficiency ratio was 61.1%, compared with 63.6% and 64.8%. Source

Private Bank and strategic initiatives

  • Private Bank added $0.15 to EPS: Management said the Private Bank contributed $0.15 to diluted EPS, up from $0.11 in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Private Bank deposits grew 7%: Private Bank deposits were $17.8 billion at quarter end, up from $16.6 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Reimagine the Bank and Consumer launch: Management reported progress on the Reimagine the Bank program and the launch of a new Consumer mobile platform during the quarter. Source

“We remain confident in our momentum and outlook through the remainder of 2026 and for 2027.”

Chairman and CEO Bruce Van Saun

Fees and products

  • Capital markets fees set second-quarter record: Capital markets fees were $153 million, up $19 million from the first quarter of 2026 and up $48 million from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Wealth fees reached a new record: Wealth fees were $102 million, up $2 million from the first quarter of 2026 and up $14 million from the second quarter of 2025, on growth in assets under management. Source
  • Noninterest income rose 8% sequentially: Noninterest income was $652 million, up 8% from the first quarter of 2026 and up 9% from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Mortgage banking fees fell on MSR results: Mortgage banking fees were $42 million, down $31 million from the second quarter of 2025, mainly on lower mortgage servicing rights valuation results net of hedges. Source

Net interest margin and funding costs

  • Net interest margin rose to 3.17%: Net interest margin on an FTE basis was 3.17%, up 3 basis points from the first quarter of 2026 and 22 basis points from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Deposit and funding costs edged up: Interest-bearing deposit costs were 2.08%, up 4 basis points. Total deposit costs were 1.63%, up 3 basis points, and total cost of funds was 1.85%, up 5 basis points. Source
  • Net interest income up 14% year over year: Net interest income was $1.6 billion, up 4.4% from the first quarter of 2026 and 14% from the second quarter of 2025, on a higher margin and interest-earning assets. Source

Costs and efficiency

  • Expenses rose 6% year over year: Noninterest expense was $1,394 million, up 1% from the first quarter of 2026 and up 6% from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Salaries rose on Private Bank hiring: Salaries and benefits were up $64 million from the second quarter of 2025, reflecting Private Bank and Private Wealth hiring and capital markets compensation. Source
  • Salaries fell on seasonal payroll taxes: Salaries and benefits were down $13 million from the first quarter of 2026. Other operating expense rose $25 million, reflecting higher insurance and other items. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 22.3%: The effective tax rate was 22.3%, compared with 20.5% in the first quarter of 2026, when discrete tax benefits had been recognized. Source

Loans, deposits and borrowings

  • Loans grew 3% on spot basis: Period-end loans and leases were $147.5 billion, up 3% from the first quarter of 2026, led by commercial and Private Bank growth. Average loans rose 2%. Source
  • Commercial loans drove year-over-year growth: Commercial loans and leases grew $5.6 billion from the second quarter of 2025, while retail grew $2.5 billion, mainly in home equity and mortgage. Source
  • Average deposits up 1% sequentially: Average deposits were $183.6 billion, up $2.3 billion, or 1%, from the first quarter of 2026, mainly in Private Bank and retail low-cost categories. Source
  • Borrowings rose on FHLB advances: Period-end borrowed funds were $16.3 billion, up $4.0 billion from the first quarter of 2026, mainly from FHLB advances, partly offset by lower auto collateralized borrowings. Source

Credit quality

  • Net charge-offs fell to 37 basis points: Net charge-offs were $135 million, or 37 basis points of average loans, down from 39 basis points in the first quarter of 2026 and 48 basis points a year earlier. Source
  • Nonaccrual loans fell 4%: Nonaccrual loans were $1.4 billion, down 4% from the first quarter of 2026, driven by a decrease in commercial real estate. The nonaccrual ratio was 0.97%. Source
  • Provision fell year over year: The provision for credit losses was $134 million, compared with $140 million in the first quarter of 2026 and $164 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Coverage of nonaccrual loans rose to 152%: The allowance for credit losses was 1.48% of loans, down from 1.52%, while coverage of nonaccrual loans rose to 152% from 146%, with the allowance at $2.2 billion. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • CET1 ratio at 10.4%: The CET1 ratio was 10.4%, compared with 10.5% at March 31, 2026 and 10.6% a year earlier. Tangible book value per share was $38.29. Source
  • Capital returned $422 million: Total capital returned to shareholders was $422 million, including $197 million of common dividends paid. Source
  • Buybacks slowed from first quarter: Common share repurchases were $225 million, down from $300 million in the first quarter of 2026 and up from $200 million in the second quarter of 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 16 July 2026

  • Further DFAST improvement expected: Management said it was pleased with the DFAST stress loss results and anticipates further improvement under the new Fed models. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net charge-offs were partly offset by higher commercial and industrial charge-offs, which rose while commercial real estate and retail declined. Source
  • Operational: Outside services costs rose on the cost to implement the Reimagine the Bank program, alongside higher technology-related costs. Source
  • Financial: Management said it continues to work out the General Office commercial real estate portfolio, which remains an active credit workout. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first quarter release said the company was well-positioned for this. The second quarter documents do not report status against it.
  • Not stated: Management said it is executing on its strategic initiatives, with continued growth in the Private Bank. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.