BNU increases profits 13.6% in the first nine months of the year

O Macau National Overseas Bank (BNU) recorded net profits of 358.3 million patacas (EUR 39.54 million) in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 13.6% compared to the previous annual period.

The financial margin totaled 666.3 million patacas (EUR 73.53 million) in the period under review, representing an increase of 5.3% compared to the first nine months of 2025, today announced the bank belonging to the General Deposit Box.

“ This performance was supported by credit growth, which contributed to offset the impact of reducing interest rates on asset profitability. The result of services and commissions remained stable at 68.9 million patacas [7.6 million euros]. The additional margin was also affected by the reduction in financial transaction results, mainly reflecting the decrease in exchange gains and the increase in foreign exchange losses recorded by the Hengqin Branch”, the bank explained in a statement.

The BNU noted the contribution of tourism recovery to the Macau economy, but also stressed the persistence of “challenges associated with the context of lower interest rates, moderation of private consumption and increased competition”.

In the first nine months of the year, provisions and impairments for credit losses accounted for a net formation of six million patacas (EUR 662,000) compared to 32.7 million patacas (EUR 3.61 million) in the same period of 2025, a development that contributed to the improvement of net results.

The credit granted increased to approximately 27.9 billion patacas (EUR 3,08 billion), a growth of 6.3% compared to September 2025.

“The growth of the credit portfolio continued to be supported by the business financing activity and participation in syndicated credit operations”, with portfolio diversification, clarified the BNU.

The bad credit ratio (NPL) remained “low” according to the bank, which did not specify it in the statement.

The solvency ratio of the UNB, calculated in accordance with the criteria of the Macau Monetary Authority, “has remained comfortably above regulatory requirements at the end of September 2026, supported by the Bank’s strong capital position and by adequate liquidity levels,” is added.

The BNU had announced net results of 225.3 million patacas (EUR 24.86 million) in the first half of the year, in a annual fall of 1.3%, but already in a significant recovery in relation to the first three months of the year, in which the bank presented a fall in profits of 17% compared to the period between January and March 2025.

The UNB recorded a decrease of 26.3% in net profits in 2025, in the second consecutive year in which the financial institution's income decreased, after a decrease of 0.4% in 2024.

The BNU is headquartered in Macau and belongs to the Caixa Geral de Depósitos Group (CGD), and is, together with the Bank of China, a currency issuer in China's special administrative region.