Unicaja's Q3 net profit rises 10% on higher loans
MADRID, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Spain's Unicaja UNI.MC said on Friday its net profit rose 10% in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2025 thanks to a rise in loans on the back of solid economic growth in Spain and overall higher lending income.
Spanish banks are mainly retail lenders and have historically benefited from variable-rate lending when interest rates rise.
The country's sixth-largest lender by market value reported a net profit of €182 million ($203.2 million) in the July-to-September period, above the €171 million forecast by analysts in a Reuters poll.
Net interest income, a measure of earnings on loans minus deposit costs, rose 5.5% year-on-year in the quarter to €395 million, compared to forecasts of €392 million. NII rose 3.5% from the previous quarter.
Performing loans rose 4.9% year-on-year in the third quarter.
New consumer lending rose around 50% year-on-year in the quarter, while new mortgage lending was up 11% in the same period. New business loans fell around 10%.
($1 = 0.8957 euros)