NatWest faces £140m hit from Iran war as UK growth slows and inflation rises

<p>Profits ahead of expectations but almost half of £283m impairment charge follows forecast reassessment</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/may/01/uk-house-prices-natwest-profits-iran-war-oil-price-trump-bank-of-england-ftse-100-business-live">Business live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>NatWest said the economic fallout from the conflict in the Middle East could cost it £140m amid slowing growth and rising inflation even as it reported profits ahead of expectations.</p><p>Overall, the FTSE 100 lender booked a £283m impairment charge and said that almost half of that was because of a reassessment of its economic forecast to “reflect increased geopolitical risk and weaker equity markets”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/01/natwest-faces-140m-hit-from-iran-war-as-uk-growth-slows-and-inflation-rises">Continue reading...</a>