BNP Paribas Sets Aggressive Growth Targets for Belgian Operations

BNP Paribas is banking on a sharp profitability surge in Belgium, targeting a pre-tax return on equity of 22% by 2028 and 25% by 2030. These figures represent a significant jump from the 13.6% recorded last year, signaling a major strategic pivot for the French lender’s commercial and personal banking division.

The Belgian unit is now projected to contribute 0.5% of the group’s return on tangible equity by 2028, up from a previous estimate of 0.3%. Across the broader organization, BNP Paribas maintains its trajectory to exceed a 13% group ROTE within the same timeframe.

To reach these benchmarks, the bank is focusing on a 9% average annual revenue growth between 2025 and 2028, fueled primarily by net interest income. Management also aims to sharpen efficiency, targeting a cost-income ratio of approximately 59% by 2028—an improvement of 10 percentage points. The plan further anticipates a steady 2% annual growth in loans and deposits, supported by a stable deposit mix.