Higher mortgage rates have increased pressure on housing affordability. Longer fixed-rate mortgages periods limit the risk of shocks to the banking system and support the resilience of euro-area mortgage markets.

Competitive pressures have intensified but we still expect French banks’ profits to grow this year, supported by retail and corporate and investment banking. But profitability still lags EU peers, as large operating structures weigh on cost efficiency.

Wednesday, July 23rd 2025 - 3:00 PM (CEST)

Santander’s acquisition of TSB from Banco de Sabadell reflects a broader trend among EU banks of strengthening core markets via acquisitions, while for Sabadell, it represents a renewed focus on its domestic market.

Collections in May 2025 rose 12% month-on-month to EUR 144m but were 38% lower than the average May volumes of the previous three years.

Les économies américaine et européenne connaîtront une croissance plus lente que prévue en 2025, contribuant à un ralentissement de la croissance économique globale. Les perspectives de l’économie mondiale restent orientées à la baisse, selon Scope Group.

The US and European economies will expand more slowly in 2025 than previously forecast, contributing to more moderate global economic growth, with risks for the global economy and global credit risk skewed to the downside, Scope Group says.

BPCE’s announcement of the acquisition of 75% of Novo Banco, Portugal’s 4th largest bank, from Lone Star Funds represents an important development in European bank M&A.

Spanish banks’ net interest margins reached their lowest level in Q1 vs 2024, yet profitability continues to improve, driven by higher loan volumes, sustained growth in fees and commissions and strict cost discipline.

Collections in April declined by 22% month over month and were 35% lower than the April average for the three previous years, indicating a notable slowdown in recovery performance.