EU bank assets rise, NPLs stable at end-2025
The European Central Bank has published consolidated banking data for the EU banking system as at end-December 2025. Total assets increased by 1.6% to €33.50 trillion, while the non-performing loans ratio remained stable at 1.97%.
Key metrics for EU banks
The aggregate total assets of EU-headquartered credit institutions increased by 1.6%, reaching €33.50 trillion by end-December 2025, up from €32.97 trillion in December 2024.
This growth underscores the continued expansion within the EU banking sector.
Simultaneously, the aggregate non-performing loans (NPL) ratio for EU credit institutions remained stable at 1.97% in December 2025, signaling consistent asset quality.
Profitability also showed strength, with the aggregate return on equity (ROE) recorded at 9.3%.
The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio, a crucial indicator of solvency, stood at a robust 16.42%.
These consolidated banking data provide a comprehensive overview of the EU banking system's health and performance.
Data scope and reporting standards
The consolidated banking data offers a detailed analysis of the EU banking sector, compiled on a group consolidated basis.
It covers 332 banking groups and 2,292 stand-alone credit institutions, representing nearly 100% of the sector's balance sheet.
The dataset provides extensive indicators on profitability, balance sheet composition, liquidity, funding, asset quality, and capital adequacy.
While most reporters apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and European Banking Authority (EBA) technical standards, some smaller entities may use national accounting standards.
The current release also includes minor revisions to past data, ensuring accuracy.