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AIB Group PLC on Thursday affirmed its annual guidance and reported a slight decline in first quarter net interest income. The Dublin-based lender said net interest income in the first three months of the year fell around 3.2% to €920 million from €950 million a year prior. AIB said this was due to lower interest rates, but was ‘partially offset by an increase in average volumes’. ‘Having entered 2026 with great momentum in our business, the group delivered a strong performance in the first quarter,’ Chief Executive Officer Colin Hunt said. ‘Notwithstanding the geopolitical uncertainty, the Irish economy continues to perform well and we remain confident in our outlook for 2026.’ AIB still expects 2026 net interest income of around €3.8 billion, rising from €3.75 billion in 2025. Costs are expected to increase around 2%. Its outlook is based on a European Central Bank deposit rate and Bank of England bank rate at 2.00% and 3.25% through 2026. The ECB deposit rate is currently at 2.00%, but the BoE base rate is at 3.75%. Both announce rate decisions on Thursday afternoon and are expected to leave rates unmoved. AIB shares fell 0.5% to 840.00 pence each in London on Thursday morning. Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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