NatWest reported third-quarter operating pretax profit of £2.23 billion, up 1.9% year on year and above the £2.20 billion analyst consensus, helped by Evelyn Partners income and wider deposit margins. Separately, the newer results report described profit as falling 3.9% to £1.7 billion, partly because of a higher tax charge, while attributable profit in the earlier report fell sequentially to £1.53 billion. Impairment losses rose 98% quarter on quarter to £277 million despite total income increasing 7% year on year to £4.64 billion. NatWest cut 1,000 jobs during the quarter, taking reductions this year to 1,400, as it expands artificial intelligence across operations and customer services. The bank kept its full-year targets unchanged, while its next share buyback announcement was deferred until full-year 2026 results.