Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Lending has grown 4.4% since year-end to £388 billion, consistent with an annual growth rate of over 4% over the past six years [3][6] - Income increased to $12.1 billion, a 12.5% rise compared to the first nine months of the previous year [5][6] - Costs rose by 2.5% to €5.9 billion, resulting in an operating profit of €5.8 billion and an attributable profit of €4.1 billion [5][6] - Return on tangible equity was reported at 19.5% [5][6] - Earnings per share grew by 32.4% year-on-year, and TNAV per share increased by 14.6% to 3.62p [7] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mortgage lending increased by over £5 billion for the first nine months, with new offers for first-time buyers and family-backed mortgages [3][4] - Unsecured lending grew by £2.9 billion or 17.3%, aided by the integration of recently acquired Sainsbury's customers [3][4] - Commercial and institutional lending grew by €7.9 billion or 5.5%, particularly in infrastructure and sustainable finance [4][5] - Non-interest income rose due to higher fees from payments, cards, and strong performance in currencies and capital markets [5][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Deposits grew by 0.8% to $435 billion, reflecting a balance between volume and value in a competitive market [4][5] - Retail banking deposit balances decreased by £800 million, while private banking balances fell by £700 million due to shifts into investments [13][14] - Commercial institutional deposits saw a slight increase of £400 million [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on disciplined growth, simplification, and effective balance sheet management [2][19] - A new share buyback of $750 million was announced, with 50% already executed [6] - The company aims to support customers while investing in business growth and delivering attractive returns to shareholders [6][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that despite inflation above the Bank of England's target, the economy is growing with low unemployment and high levels of savings [2] - Full-year income guidance was revised to around €16.3 billion, with expected returns greater than 18% [6][11] - The company remains confident in its ability to manage costs and maintain a healthy cost profile moving forward [41][42] Other Important Information - The CET1 ratio at the end of Q3 was 14.2%, with strong capital generation allowing for continued investment and shareholder returns [6][17] - The company expects to complete the buyback by the full-year results [6] Q&A Session Summary Question: Deposit momentum and non-interest income drivers - Management indicated that deposits are up around £3.5 billion year-to-date, with different trends across business lines [25][30] - Non-interest income showed strong momentum, particularly in cards, payments, and capital markets [30] Question: Cost growth expectations - Management reiterated cost guidance for the year, emphasizing ongoing simplification efforts and cost management [40][41] Question: Capital and CRD impact - Limited CRD4 impact was noted for Q3, with expectations for more material impacts in Q4 [44][45] Question: Loan growth sustainability - Management expressed confidence in maintaining strong loan growth, particularly in commercial and institutional sectors [72][73] Question: Future return expectations - Management will provide updated return targets in February, with ongoing discussions about capital requirements and growth [90][96]