UK’s Lloyds Bank reports double-digit gains in global 2022 income

United Kingdom-based banking giant Lloyds Bank recorded double digits growth in global income in the backdrop of economic uncertainty in 2022. 

Indeed for 2022, the lender reported an income of £1.82 billion ($2.1 billion) from its various global operations, representing gains of about 11.5% from 2021’s figure of £1.63 billion, Lloyds Bank’s annual financial report indicated. 

The current performance has elevated Lloyds Bank revenues to reclaim pre-pandemic levels; notably, before 2020, the lender maintained a steady income above £1.8 billion for three consecutive years. 

Navigating economic uncertainty

The bank’s chief executive Charlie Nunn attributed the gains to Lloyds’ measures to navigate the challenging economic time characterized by high inflation and a possible plunge into a recession. 

“Since setting out our three to five-year plan for Lloyds Banking Group in February 2022, we’ve adapted to new challenges as rises in interest rates, inflation, and the cost of living all continue to have a significant impact on the economy and our customers. Despite the uncertain economic environment, we’ve made good progress on what we set out to do,” he said. 

Furthermore, segments such as digital banking for Lloyd continue to attract more customers, with the figure standing at 19.8 million. 

Despite the profits doubling, the bank is expecting a boost from UK interest rate rises to start to fall next year. In this line, the lender noted it had set aside more than expected for any defaults that might arise. 

In particular, the possibility of loan defaulting stems from the steady increase in energy, food, and mortgage bills that are taking a toll on household budgets. Consequently,  Lloyds had set aside £1.5 billion in 2022 to handle possible loan defaults. 

In the meantime, the bank is also operating in a highly competitive environment, a factor that might overshadow its future outlook. For instance, Nunn acknowledged that the lender was facing competition for savings from other entities, such as JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM).