United Overseas Bank Limited – Gains and lower provisions lift e

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Positives
+ Wealth is the only driver of growth. Wealth fees hit a record S$243mn, up 29% YoY, and
1H26 wealth income rose 16% to S$717mn. Invested AUM grew 15% YoY and now makes
up 42% of the S$204bn wealth AUM (2Q25: 40%), as customers moved deposits into
investment products. That shift is why group CASA fell to 55.6% of deposits (2Q25: 56.5%).
ASEAN-4 wealth income grew 30% YoY, led by Malaysia and Thailand, and net new money
was S$4bn in 1H26.
+ Volume growth is building ahead of a rate turn. Wholesale trade loans grew 33% YoY
and wholesale CASA 9%, taking wholesale gross loans up 8% YoY to S$258bn and deposits
up 13% to S$227bn. Average interest-bearing assets were 8% larger YoY, and NII from
interbank and securities rose 12% YoY to S$503mn as surplus liquidity was allocated to high
quality liquid assets. None of this is reflected in income yet, with wholesale banking income
down 10% YoY due to rate compression. Around 80% of the loan book is floating rate.

United Overseas Bank Limited – Fee income disappoints but NIM resilient

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Positives
+ NIM resilience on funding cost discipline. NIM held at 1.82% (-18bps YoY, -2bps QoQ),
tracking above the upper end of FY26 guidance of 1.75%-1.80%. Execution was strong:
+15bps from active funding cost management nearly fully offset by -14bps asset repricing
drag, despite a 16bps fall in 3M SORA and a 72bps fall in 1M HIBOR. Exit NIM in March 2026
was 1.83%, and we believe margin pressure is stabilising. UOB’s house view is for one more
Fed cut and a limited downside in SORA. We expect FY26e NIM to come in at the upper end
of guidance, providing a tailwind for NII and PATMI.
+ Cost discipline maintained; CIR improved QoQ. Total expenses of S$1,523mn were
broadly flat QoQ (-2% YoY), with CIR improving 1.9pp QoQ to 44.5%. Management is
maintaining headcount discipline via productivity gains and natural attrition while
continuing to invest in technology and wealth capabilities. FY26 cost growth guidance of
low single digits remains unchanged, suggesting management is balancing reinvestment in
the 2H26 wealth rollout with cost discipline.

United Overseas Bank Limited – Earnings recover as provisions stabilise

United Overseas Bank Limited – Provisions stockpiling hits earnings

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – NII and allowances pull down earnings

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – Stashing provisions under the mattress

United Overseas Bank Limited – Higher allowances hurt earnings

United Overseas Bank Limited – Other non-interest income boost earnings

United Overseas Bank Limited – ROE to sustain at 14%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Overseas Bank Limited – Trading and investment offset fees growth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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