← Columbia Banking System overview

Columbia Banking System vs NatWest: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Columbia Banking System Inc (COLB)

Q3 2026
▲2

Q2 beat, buyback plan, Utah expansion, $250M debt raise

  • Q2 earnings beat and buyback plan Columbia beat profit estimates ($0.76 vs $0.73) and said it will buy back $150M-$200M of its own stock in Q3, after already returning over $300M to shareholders. Buybacks shrink the share count, which tends to lift the stock price.

    The earnings beat plus a concrete buyback plan is the main new force pushing COLB up.

  • Revenue miss and shrinking loan book Revenue of $677M-$683M fell short of estimates, and total loans slipped to $47.2B as commercial real estate borrowers paid off loans faster than new ones were made. Management called this disciplined lending, but slower loan growth weighs on future profit.

    This is the real counterweight: the top line missed and the loan book is contracting.

  • New Utah branches expand customer reach Columbia opened a combined commercial and retail branch in Draper, Utah, the first of three planned Salt Lake City-area locations in 2026. More branches mean more potential deposits and loans, supporting growth over time.

    Branch expansion is a new, concrete driver of future deposit and loan growth.

  • $250M subordinated notes priced Columbia Bank priced $250M of subordinated notes due 2036 at 6.721%, counted as regulatory capital. Proceeds fund growth and let the parent redeem trust preferred securities, but the interest cost adds a modest expense.

    This new financing strengthens capital but carries a real cost, so the effect is mixed.

August 2026
▲2

Q2 beat, buyback plan, Utah expansion, $250M debt raise

  • Q2 earnings beat and buyback plan Columbia beat profit estimates ($0.76 vs $0.73) and said it will buy back $150M-$200M of its own stock in Q3, after already returning over $300M to shareholders. Buybacks shrink the share count, which tends to lift the stock price.

    The earnings beat plus a concrete buyback plan is the main new force pushing COLB up.

  • Revenue miss and shrinking loan book Revenue of $677M-$683M fell short of estimates, and total loans slipped to $47.2B as commercial real estate borrowers paid off loans faster than new ones were made. Management called this disciplined lending, but slower loan growth weighs on future profit.

    This is the real counterweight: the top line missed and the loan book is contracting.

  • New Utah branches expand customer reach Columbia opened a combined commercial and retail branch in Draper, Utah, the first of three planned Salt Lake City-area locations in 2026. More branches mean more potential deposits and loans, supporting growth over time.

    Branch expansion is a new, concrete driver of future deposit and loan growth.

  • $250M subordinated notes priced Columbia Bank priced $250M of subordinated notes due 2036 at 6.721%, counted as regulatory capital. Proceeds fund growth and let the parent redeem trust preferred securities, but the interest cost adds a modest expense.

    This new financing strengthens capital but carries a real cost, so the effect is mixed.

Latest
▲2

Q2 beat, buyback plan, Utah expansion, $250M debt raise

  • Q2 earnings beat and buyback plan Columbia beat profit estimates ($0.76 vs $0.73) and said it will buy back $150M-$200M of its own stock in Q3, after already returning over $300M to shareholders. Buybacks shrink the share count, which tends to lift the stock price.

    The earnings beat plus a concrete buyback plan is the main new force pushing COLB up.

  • Revenue miss and shrinking loan book Revenue of $677M-$683M fell short of estimates, and total loans slipped to $47.2B as commercial real estate borrowers paid off loans faster than new ones were made. Management called this disciplined lending, but slower loan growth weighs on future profit.

    This is the real counterweight: the top line missed and the loan book is contracting.

  • New Utah branches expand customer reach Columbia opened a combined commercial and retail branch in Draper, Utah, the first of three planned Salt Lake City-area locations in 2026. More branches mean more potential deposits and loans, supporting growth over time.

    Branch expansion is a new, concrete driver of future deposit and loan growth.

  • $250M subordinated notes priced Columbia Bank priced $250M of subordinated notes due 2036 at 6.721%, counted as regulatory capital. Proceeds fund growth and let the parent redeem trust preferred securities, but the interest cost adds a modest expense.

    This new financing strengthens capital but carries a real cost, so the effect is mixed.

NatWest Group PLC (NWG.LSE)

Q3 2026
▲3▼1

NatWest Q3: Strong profits, buybacks, but tax and war risks loom

  • Strong Q2 profit and upgraded guidance NatWest's Q2 profit jumped 29% to £2.29bn, helping first-half profit beat expectations at £4.3bn. The bank now expects about £17.9bn of income for the year, with a 21% return on tangible equity.

    This is the core positive driver of the quarter, showing better-than-expected earnings and improved outlook.

  • Acquisition and partnership expand reach NatWest agreed to buy wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7bn and formed a partnership with Sainsbury's. These moves aim to grow the bank's customer base and fee income.

    These strategic actions are new and could drive future growth, making them key positive drivers.

  • Shareholder returns and innovation progress Shareholders benefited from buybacks and a 12p interim dividend. NatWest also expanded AI tools and completed a pioneering tokenised-deposit mortgage test, showing progress in digital innovation.

    These actions directly reward shareholders and demonstrate forward-looking technology, supporting the stock.

  • Tax raid and war risks threaten profits The Chancellor's expected multi-billion-pound tax raid is the biggest near-term threat to profits, dividends, and buybacks. The Iran war could raise loan-loss provisions, and the TUC seeks a higher bank tax surcharge.

    These are the main negative forces that could offset the positive momentum and pressure the stock.

September 2026
▲2▼2

NatWest beats guidance, but UK tax and crypto rules loom

  • NatWest upgrades 2026 guidance after strong Q2 NatWest raised its 2026 outlook after a strong second quarter: return on tangible equity hit 21%, income rose 5.4% to £4.4bn and operating profit jumped 12.4% to £2.3bn. It now expects full-year income of about £17.9bn and strong capital generation. Higher profit and capital support the shares.

    This is the core earnings news that directly lifts the bank's value and future payout capacity.

  • UK lawmakers press banks over crypto account refusals Parliament's crypto group wrote to NatWest and other UK bank CEOs asking how they treat crypto firms, after reports banks block or delay about 40% of transfers to crypto exchanges. This raises the risk of new rules forcing banks to serve the sector, adding compliance cost and uncertainty.

    It is a new regulatory pressure point that could change how NatWest handles a whole customer segment.

  • Banks warn AI shopping agents outpace fraud protections NatWest joined major banks warning that AI shopping agents are creating new scam, fraud and data risks faster than protections can keep up. The group wants rules like telling shoppers when an AI agent is involved. This could mean new compliance costs, but also positions NatWest as shaping the rules.

    It shows a new technology risk that could raise costs, while giving NatWest a voice in setting future standards.

  • NatWest completes first tokenised deposit mortgage test NatWest and other UK banks completed the first real interbank transactions using tokenised deposits, including mortgage refinancing where funds release automatically once property transfer is confirmed. This points to faster, cheaper settlement and a possible new revenue stream as tokenised assets grow.

    It is a concrete technology milestone that could lower costs and open new business over time.

  • Chancellor summons bank chiefs over expected tax raid NatWest's CEO was summoned to a pre-budget summit as the sector braces for a multi-billion-pound tax hike. Banks are lobbying hard, but if taxes rise, NatWest's profits and the cash available for dividends and buybacks would shrink. This is the biggest near-term risk.

    A potential tax increase directly hits profits and shareholder payouts, making it a key driver of the share price.

Latest
▲2▼2

NatWest beats guidance, but UK tax and crypto rules loom

  • NatWest upgrades 2026 guidance after strong Q2 NatWest raised its 2026 outlook after a strong second quarter: return on tangible equity hit 21%, income rose 5.4% to £4.4bn and operating profit jumped 12.4% to £2.3bn. It now expects full-year income of about £17.9bn and strong capital generation. Higher profit and capital support the shares.

    This is the core earnings news that directly lifts the bank's value and future payout capacity.

  • UK lawmakers press banks over crypto account refusals Parliament's crypto group wrote to NatWest and other UK bank CEOs asking how they treat crypto firms, after reports banks block or delay about 40% of transfers to crypto exchanges. This raises the risk of new rules forcing banks to serve the sector, adding compliance cost and uncertainty.

    It is a new regulatory pressure point that could change how NatWest handles a whole customer segment.

  • Banks warn AI shopping agents outpace fraud protections NatWest joined major banks warning that AI shopping agents are creating new scam, fraud and data risks faster than protections can keep up. The group wants rules like telling shoppers when an AI agent is involved. This could mean new compliance costs, but also positions NatWest as shaping the rules.

    It shows a new technology risk that could raise costs, while giving NatWest a voice in setting future standards.

  • NatWest completes first tokenised deposit mortgage test NatWest and other UK banks completed the first real interbank transactions using tokenised deposits, including mortgage refinancing where funds release automatically once property transfer is confirmed. This points to faster, cheaper settlement and a possible new revenue stream as tokenised assets grow.

    It is a concrete technology milestone that could lower costs and open new business over time.

  • Chancellor summons bank chiefs over expected tax raid NatWest's CEO was summoned to a pre-budget summit as the sector braces for a multi-billion-pound tax hike. Banks are lobbying hard, but if taxes rise, NatWest's profits and the cash available for dividends and buybacks would shrink. This is the biggest near-term risk.

    A potential tax increase directly hits profits and shareholder payouts, making it a key driver of the share price.

July 2026
▲3▼1

NatWest beats profit forecasts, expands via acquisitions and AI

  • Q2 profit surge and raised outlook NatWest's second-quarter profit jumped 29% to £2.29bn, with first-half profit beating expectations at £4.3bn. The bank raised its 2026 income outlook to about £17.9bn, signalling strong momentum.

    This is the core positive earnings surprise that drove the stock.

  • Evelyn Partners acquisition and partnerships NatWest agreed to buy Evelyn Partners for £2.7bn, boosting fee income by about 20% and saving £100m annually. It also formed a Sainsbury's banking partnership and expanded AI-driven trade tools and digital ID.

    These strategic moves diversify revenue and improve efficiency, supporting the stock.

  • Shareholder returns NatWest continued earlier buybacks and declared a 12p interim dividend, returning capital to shareholders. This reinforces confidence in the bank's financial strength.

    Capital returns are a direct positive for shareholder value.

  • Risks from war and tax surcharge The Iran war may raise loan-loss provisions as living costs climb, and the TUC is pushing for a higher bank tax surcharge after bumper profits. Barclays' higher costs also briefly weighed on sector sentiment.

    These are the main headwinds that could offset positive results.

▲3

NatWest beats forecasts, lifts outlook and speeds up buybacks

  • Q2 profit jumps 29%, 2026 income outlook raised NatWest's second-quarter profit rose 29% to £2.29bn, and it raised its 2026 income forecast to about £17.9bn. Higher income means more earnings, which directly supports the share price.

    This is the core new event that changed the market's view of NatWest's earnings power.

  • Earlier buybacks and 12p interim dividend NatWest will consider share buybacks from full-year 2026, six months earlier than planned, and will pay a 12p interim dividend. Returning cash to shareholders makes the stock more attractive and can lift the price.

    It is a new capital-return commitment that investors had not been told before.

  • First-half profit beats at £4.3bn on AI and wealth push First-half operating profit rose 20% to £4.3bn, beating the £4.1bn consensus. Cost savings of about £250m and AI tools for 60,000 staff show efficiency gains, which support profits and the shares.

    It confirms the profit beat and explains the operational drivers behind it.

  • Sector sentiment and bank tax risk Barclays' higher costs briefly dragged bank shares, and the TUC renewed calls for a higher bank tax surcharge after bumper profits. A tax rise would reduce future earnings, but strong results from NatWest and peers have so far outweighed that worry.

    It gives the real counterweight: sector-wide cost concerns and potential tax increases that could pressure the shares.

▲4

NatWest expands wealth and payments, but war raises loan-loss risk

  • AI trade platform NatWest is using AI to automate trade documents, making cross-border trade faster and compliance checks stronger. This should improve customer service and efficiency, supporting profits and the share price over time.

    New technology partnership that can lift efficiency and customer appeal.

  • Digital ID and Swift payments NatWest is helping build a digital ID service and is among the first to adopt Swift's new consumer payments framework. These moves make banking more convenient and could attract and keep customers, a mild positive for the shares.

    New industry initiatives that enhance NatWest's product offering and customer engagement.

  • Evelyn Partners deal completed NatWest finished buying wealth manager Evelyn Partners for £2.7bn. This boosts fee income by about 20% and should create £100m in annual cost savings, making earnings less dependent on interest rates and supporting the share price.

    Major acquisition that changes NatWest's business mix and earnings power.

  • Sainsbury's banking partnership Sainsbury's gave up its banking licence and now uses NatWest to run its credit cards, loans and savings. NatWest gains new customers and distribution, strengthening its market position, though it may reduce pressure to innovate on rewards.

    New partnership that adds customers and distribution for NatWest.

  • Profit growth vs. bad loan risk NatWest is expected to report higher first-half profits, but the Iran war is pushing up living costs and may force the bank to set aside more money for bad loans. Higher interest rates help, but defaults are a risk to watch.

    Upcoming earnings and the main risk factor that could move the shares.