NatWest

NatWest in brief

• Rank: #36 of 100 in UK's Most Powerful 100 Brands 2026; #7 of 9 in Banking & Financial Services.
• WCRC Power Score: 66.28 out of 100.
• Founded: 1968, by Merger of National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank.
• Owner: NatWest Group plc, London, England.
• Leadership: Paul Thwaite, Group Chief Executive.
• Latest revenue: £16.6bn revenue (FY2025, year to Dec 2025, +13.2%), group revenue of NatWest Group plc (total income), as per company filings.

What makes NatWest powerful

NatWest has moved from a decade of rebuilding to a position of strength. In 2025 total income rose 13.2% to £16.6 billion and return on tangible equity reached 19.2%, among the best of the UK's big banks. Its brand, with roots in National Provincial and Westminster banks, is one of the most familiar on the high street.

The bank's power lies in its UK scale across personal, business and corporate banking, combined with strong capital that lets it invest and return cash. In February 2026 it agreed to buy Evelyn Partners for £2.7 billion, a big push into wealth management that adds fee income and deepens relationships with affluent customers. The deal adds a large wealth business to NatWest's existing private banking brands.

NatWest agreed to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7 billion in February 2026.

Why NatWest ranks #36

NatWest ranks 36th with a WCRC Power Score of 66.28, between Lush above and Next below. Positioning and recall (70) and digital and financial strength (70) lift it, reflecting a familiar high-street name and record 2025 profits with a 19.2% return on tangible equity. Trust, product and innovation, and sustainability and governance each score 64, held back by its dependence on UK interest rates and the memory of its bailout years.

The Achilles' heel

NatWest is almost entirely a UK bank, so its fortunes track British interest rates, house prices and business confidence. As rates fall, deposit margins will narrow, and any rise in unemployment would push up bad debts. Integrating Evelyn Partners also brings execution risk in a wealth market that is competitive and heavily regulated.

The 2026 story

NatWest reported 2025 results on 13 February 2026, with total income up 13.2% to £16.6 billion and return on tangible equity of 19.2%. Days earlier it announced the £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners alongside a new £750 million buyback, and operating profit before tax of £7.7 billion. Paul Thwaite remains group chief executive.

Pillar profile

Provisional desk scores out of 100, for the WCRC Business Intelligence Unit to validate.

Versus its nearest rivals

Questions people ask

Also featured in

• Most powerful Banking & Financial Services brands
• UK's 50 Most Valuable Brands
• Biggest British Brands by Revenue
• Fastest-Growing British Brands
• Most powerful brands in England

Key facts

Sources

• Revenue figure published by NatWest Group plc
• Company website, official announcements and press releases
• Published interviews and statements by the leadership
• WCRC Business Intelligence Unit research: consumer sentiment, ratings and reviews, search demand, media and social data