Strategic pivot to increase Group ROAE

Secure Trust Bank PLC ("STB" or the "Group"), a leading specialist lender, announces a pivot in its strategy away from Vehicle Finance that, over time, is expected to improve its Return on Average Equity ("ROAE").

The Group announces it will stop new lending within its Vehicle Finance business and put the existing book into run-off. This decision reflects the historical financial performance and medium-term outlook of the Vehicle Finance business, both on an absolute basis and relative to other parts of the Group, and its sub-scale nature.

On an unaudited pro forma basis, the impact to the Group's FY2024 financial results assuming a completed run-off and the cost actions outlined below, would be an uplift on adjusted profit before tax to £56.6m from £39.1m and an estimated 800bps increase to Group ROAE1 before any reinvestment of released capital from the Vehicle Finance business.

The Group will continue to support its existing customers and loan portfolio in Vehicle Finance. As at 30 June 2025, the average consumer loan length outstanding was 37 months. The longest contractual loan agreement is 60 months.

Vehicle Finance generated a loss before tax pre-exceptional items of £21.8m in FY2024, and its net lending balances were £558.3m as at 31 December 2024. Vehicle Finance accounted for approximately 30% of the Group's adjusted operating costs in FY2024. The Group will streamline its cost base as the loan book runs down, enabling more than £25m of operating costs to be removed by 2030. Management has a strong record of achieving its cost reduction targets.

STB will consult with impacted colleagues, expecting 284 roles to be at risk by 2030, including 78 roles at risk in FY2025. Restructuring costs of c.£5.0m2 are expected to be incurred. Vehicle Finance will be reported as non-core activity in the FY2025 results and thereafter.

A further update will be provided in the Group's interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2025, set to be released on 14 August 2025.

Optimising for Growth

The Group's FY2024 full year results announcement on 13 March 2025 stated that, subject to no adverse changes in the economy and trading environment, the Group was well positioned in the near term to achieve its £4 billion net lending target, at which point it is expected to be at a scale to deliver a ROAE of 14-16%.

The Group continues to make good progress against its strategic priorities of Simplify, Enhance Customer Experience and Leverage Networks during the year-to-date. This strategic progress has continued to drive our loan book growth and cost efficiencies. The Group has traded in line with management expectations in H1 2025.

Management has identified further opportunities beyond the strategic pivot announced today that are expected to enhance the Group's ROAE above the current target range over the coming years. The Group plans to increase capital allocation to its Retail Finance, Real Estate Finance and Commercial Finance businesses, which all have a strong track record of generating attractive returns.

Further details of the Group's strategic plans and updated targets will be provided in a capital markets event expected to be held in Q4 2025.

David McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer, said:

"The strategic repositioning of the Group, as we rapidly approach our £4 billion net lending target, marks another critical milestone in our Optimising for Growth strategic framework. We have made the difficult decision to stop new lending in Vehicle Finance, our lowest return business line, and to redeploy capital to our three higher returning businesses of Retail Finance, Real Estate Finance and Commercial Finance."

"This pivot will allow the Group to prioritise these established specialist businesses and achieves further simplification of the Group combined with the removal of a significant level of costs. These measures will have a material positive impact on ROAE for the Group and will position the Group to being capital accretive."

"We will be consulting with impacted colleagues to explain why this pivot in our strategy will drive the future sustainable success of the Group."

Footnotes:

• Pro forma Group ROAE has been estimated by reducing Group average equity in FY2024 by the amount of equity capital allocated to Vehicle Finance average RWAs of £441.1m. Exceptional costs of £8.4m in FY2024 related to Vehicle Finance and have been added back to Group total profit before tax. No capital reinvestment is assumed in estimating the pro forma Group ROAE.
• Including £1.4m of accelerated 'software as a service' amortisation.

Footnotes:

• Adjusted metrics exclude exceptional items of £9.9 million (2023: £6.5 million).
• Performance metrics relate to continuing operations, unless otherwise stated. Further details of the metrics can be found in the Appendix to the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

Secure Trust Bank PLC, Yorke House, Arleston Way, Solihull, B90 4LH.

About Vehicle Finance

Vehicle Finance provides consumer lending products that are secured against the second-hand vehicle being financed. It also provides a vehicle stock funding product, which is secured against dealer forecourt used car stock; sourced from auctions, part exchanges or trade sources. Finance is provided via technology platforms, allowing Vehicle Finance to receive applications online from introducers; provide an automated decision; facilitate document production through to pay-out to dealer; and manage in-life loan accounts.

The Group's FY2024 full year results announcement on 13 March 2025 stated that In light of legal and regulatory developments, including the FCA's ongoing review of the historical discretionary commission arrangements ('DCA') in the motor finance market (January 2024), and the Court of Appeal's judgment (October 2024) which is currently under appeal, the Group had recognised costs of £6.9 million (£5.2 million potential redress, £1.7 million costs, of which £6.4 million was recognised as a provision) for both DCA and fixed motor finance commission structures.

Group segmental audited financial information - FY20245

Footnotes:

• Per Note 3 of the Annual Report & Accounts 2024