Among the details, Germany's second-largest bank said it plans a €1.2 billion share buyback and aims to return total capital of about €3.2 billion this year.

Commerzbank, which is getting closer to being taken over by Italy’s UniCredit, today posted a net profit of €898 million ($1.036 billion) in the second quarter of this year, almost doubling (94.2 per cent) from a year earlier, and beating analysts’ consensus forecasts. 

The German bank, which is headquartered and listed in Frankfurt, also announced that it planned a €1.2 billion share buyback and that its Common Equity Tier 1 capital buffer remained “strong” at 14.4 per cent. 

The lender said it aims for a total capital return of around €3.2 billion for the 2026 financial year, using a mix of share buybacks and dividend payments.

The result “demonstrates the strength of our business model,” Bettina Orlopp, chief executive, said in a statement today. “With our strategy, we are reliably creating value for all shareholders.”

Since the start of 2026, shares in Commerzbank have risen about 8.1 per cent. 

The bank said its net return on tangible equity (RoTE) of 12.6 per cent was a record result, adding that it was fully on track to achieve its targets for the whole of 2026.

The grip tightens
The results come as UniCredit gets closer to taking control of Germany’s second-largest bank. It has struggled for more than two years to take ownership. UniCredit owns 47.6 per cent of Commerzbank's capital, or about 49.7 per cent of voting rights, according to Reuters.

In her statement today, Orlopp said: “Even when UniCredit holds a majority at the next annual general meeting, it cannot unilaterally decide on fundamental structural measures. This creates a clear responsibility for both sides. It requires a shared understanding of the business model and the involvement of all stakeholders.”

Commerzbank said it made a net profit of €2.7 billion in the first six m months of 2026; revenues rose 9 per cent to €3.3 billion in the quarter and 7 per cent to €6.5 billion in the quarter. 

Business with private and small-business customers in Germany generated revenues of €1.260 billion, rising 12 per cent compared with the same quarter of the previous year. 

Assets under management in Commerzbank’s discretionary portfolio management product increased by 20 per cent from a year earlier to around €25 billion. More than 90 per cent of newly-acquired mandates were concluded through the new digital onboarding process, it said.