Bank Leumi Reports 2.8 Billion Shekel Net Profit in Q2 2026 with Strong Credit Growth

Bank Leumi concluded the second quarter of 2026 with a net profit of approximately 2.8 billion shekels, marking an 8.5% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Excluding the impact of a special bank tax, the net profit reached about 3.1 billion shekels. For the first half of 2026, the bank reported a total profit of around 5.2 billion shekels, aligning with the upper range of its annual profitability target of 9 to 11 billion shekels.

The bank's return on equity (ROE) stood at 16.3% in Q2 2026, slightly up from 16.2% in Q2 2025, and reached 17.9% when adjusted for the special tax. The efficiency ratio improved to 24.7%, the best in Israel and among the top globally, driven by the bank's strategic focus on technological leadership and artificial intelligence.

Leumi distributed approximately 1.4 billion shekels to shareholders in Q2, including 1.1 billion in cash dividends and the remainder through share buybacks, representing 50% of the quarterly net profit as per strategic goals. The bank's credit portfolio grew impressively by 9% since the start of the year, with business credit rising 14%, commercial credit 6.5%, and mortgages 4.1%, surpassing the bank's annual growth target of 8-10%.

Credit quality remained strong, with a low non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 0.45% and credit loss expenses at 0.20% of average credit balance for the quarter. Deposits increased by 3.4% during Q2 to about 719 billion shekels. Capital adequacy ratios were robust, with a Tier 1 capital ratio of 11.65%, total capital ratio of 14.43%, and liquidity coverage ratio of 122% as of June 30, 2026.

Overall, Bank Leumi demonstrated solid financial health, responsible credit growth, and continued operational efficiency, maintaining its leadership position in the Israeli banking sector.