British banker, CEO of Lloyds Banking Group since 2021
Lloyds Banking Group has reported a 23% rise in pretax profit to £4.3 billion for the first half of 2026, beating analyst expectations. The bank outlines a four-year plan from 2027, Accelerate 2030, centred on digital transformation and AI deployment to cut costs and expand services, while warning of shifts in employment as roles adapt.
Banking giants report strong first-half results driven by wealth management and investment banking, with Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest raising profit forecasts as market activity rebounds. The Independent highlights profit beats and investor-driven buybacks, while concerns over bad debt provisions and sector tax remain.