Annual results 2025: NWB Bank finances investments in water resilience and the construction of social housing in the Netherlands

The Hague, 24 March 2026

• New lending to the public sector increases to €11.1 billion
• Loan portfolio reaches record level of €59.2 billion
• Net profit amounts to €113 million
• First geothermal energy project financed

NWB Bank has successfully fulfilled its role as financier of societal challenges in the Netherlands. With €11.1 billion in new lending, primarily in water and housing, the total loan portfolio reached a new record high in 2025 of more than €59 billion. Net profit amounted to a healthy and appropriate level of €113 million. NWB Bank has also contributed to important European discussions on climate, water and housing.

Chair of the Managing Board Lidwin van Velden: ‘Despite the volatile geopolitical situation, we have successfully raised funds on the international capital markets and met the growing financing needs of our clients. There is an urgent need for an integrated, proactive and forward-looking approach to the societal challenges we face if we are to create a resilient and sustainable society, and affordable and appropriate financing plays an important role in this. This is also a key recommendation of the Reflection Group on Mobilising Climate Resilience Financing, established by the European Commission, to which we contributed. We are putting this recommendation into practice for example by connecting our client groups in a pilot project to create a water-positive residential area in Haarlem.’

Financing societal challenges
In 2025, NWB Bank contributed to important societal challenges through its provision of financing for necessary investments to make the Netherlands sustainable and future-proof. For instance, the water authorities invested in dike reinforcements and surface water treatment, thereby enhancing water safety and water quality. As a long-term, stable financing partner to the social housing sector, NWB Bank is proud to have played a part in delivering more sustainable social housing. NWB Bank also plays an important role in public-private partnerships. For example, the bank is financing the ViA15 project, which aims to improve traffic flow around Arnhem and towards Germany in an ecologically responsible manner. As a financing partner in the sustainable development of the Netherlands, NWB Bank granted its first sustainability-linked loan to a drinking water company called Dunea. The Pieter van Foreest healthcare organisation also received a sustainability-linked loan, which incentivises clients to meet sustainability targets. In addition, NWB Bank financed its first geothermal energy project.

Healthy figures
NWB Bank posted a healthy and appropriate profit of €113 million in 2025 (compared to €94 million in 2024), and the bank continues to have strong capital and liquidity buffers. The Tier 1 capital ratio was 42.8%, and the leverage ratio was 39.2% on 31 December 2025. Both are well above the minimum standards of 14.7% and 3%, respectively. The Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and the Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) also exceed the minimum requirement of 100%, at 235% and 148% respectively.

Outlook
In 2026, NWB Bank will continue to provide the Dutch public sector with financing that is appropriate and as affordable as possible in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. NWB Bank expects that demand for credit from water authorities, drinking water companies, and housing associations, in particular, will grow in the coming years due to the major transition challenges they face. Therefore NWB Bank expects their loan portfolio to continue to grow, which will positively impact net interest income.

In view of geopolitical developments and their impact on the money and capital markets, higher operating expenses and the heavy tax burden, NWB Bank is cautious in its forecast for net profit in 2026.