Comment by the Czech Bar Association
Net interest income in the first quarter of 2026 reached 45.7 billion CZK, which is higher than the 45 billion CZK recorded in the previous quarter. Net interest income averaged approximately CZK 44.8 billion over the past four quarters and reached CZK 44.2 billion in 2025.
In the first quarter of 2026, net interest income of 45.7 billion CZK reflects interest income of 116.6 billion CZK, which exceeded interest expense of 71 billion. Meanwhile, in the same period a year earlier, the interest income surplus of 43.1 billion CZK reflected lower interest income of 113.6 billion CZK, albeit against the backdrop of lower interest expenses of 70.5 billion CZK at that time.
The ratio of interest income to interest expense in the first quarter of 2026 fell to 164%, compared with 165% in the previous quarter. It is thus above the average ratio of 164% for 2025 and above the average ratio of 151% for the previous three years, but remains below the five-year pre-pandemic average of 363%.
The ratio of interest income to interest expense tends to decline during periods of higher central bank interest rates or, conversely, to rise (when income exceeds expenses by a greater margin) during periods of lower central bank interest rates.
Interest income and expenses
billion CZK, quarterly
Source of primary data
CNB AradCategory
Banking sectorData Frequency
quarterlyNote
Net interest income (quarterly figures) represents the difference between the interest income banks earn on their assets and the interest expense they pay on their liabilities.The data also include figures for banks and branches of foreign banks operating in the Czech Republic, as well as figures for branches of banks operating abroad.
