Deutsche Bank is capitalizing on AI’s rapid evolution to deliver better value to clients and create additional cost savings through operational efficiencies.

AI “is evolving even faster than we expected and the potential benefits for us are becoming clearer,” Chief Executive Christian Sewing said on today’s second-quarter earnings call. “We are embedding AI across workflows to boost productivity and drive scalable growth.

“We also see scope to enhance client experience, deepen client coverage and capture share of wallet through AI-driven intelligence,” he said. “This gives us potential for both incremental operating efficiencies and revenue growth in the future.”

Deutsche Bank reported it saved 300 million euros ($341 million) in the first half of 2026, which the $1.7 trillion bank attributed to workforce measures and targeted operating model improvements, according to today’s earnings report.

“We are seeing increasing signs of potential incremental productivity benefits led by AI and organization simplification,” Chief Financial Officer Raja Akram said on the call.

Akram expects the Germany-based bank to see even larger benefits from AI in the coming years.

“AI has given us a tremendous opportunity to look at our processes that are not even AI-dependent,” Akram said. “When you go in and you look at deploying AI in a particular process end-to-end, you find ways to simplify the process itself. That’s something that we are actively looking at.”

Diversifying loans

Deutsche Bank is remaining cautious and limiting risk by loaning to larger companies with diverse portfolios, as opposed to smaller companies that focus solely on AI, Akram said.

“I don’t believe that we have gone out and given a full-on breakdown of our data center exposure, but it’s high single digits and it’s within our appetite,” he said. “More importantly, our exposure is to large sponsors who have a diversified business model and a revenue stream. We don’t generally tend to lend to small sponsors or companies whose only business is AI or only business is a certain type of technology.”

BY THE NUMBERS: Deutsche Bank reported in Q2:

• Net revenues of $9.6 billion, up 8.6% year over year;
• Profit of $2.2 billion, up 9.9% YoY;
• Headcount of 89,742 as of June 30, up 0.4% YoY;
• A cost/income ratio of 63%, improved from 63.6% in Q2 2025; and
• A CET1 capital ratio of 13.9%, improved from 14.2% in Q2 2025.

Shares of Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) were up 0.4% from market open to $35.50 as of market close today. The bank has a market capitalization of $67.3 billion.

UBS invests in AI

Switzerland-based bank UBS is also investing in AI to streamline operations, CEO Sergio Ermotti said on the company’s Q2 earnings call today.

“Client sentiment was constructive, supported by growing confidence in the long-term outlook for global growth and continued investment in AI and emerging technologies,” he said.

BY THE NUMBERS: In Q2, the $1.7 trillion bank reported:

• Revenues of $13.7 billion, up 13.1% YoY;
• Net profit of $2.8 billion, up 16.9% YoY;
• Cost/income ratio of 72.9%, improved from 80.5% in Q2 2025; and
• Headcount of 99,085 as of June 30, down 5.8% YoY.

Shares of UBS (NYSE: UBS) were down 0.4% from market open to $51.82 as of market close today. The bank has a market capitalization of $170.5 billion.

Editor’s note: All amounts have been converted to U.S. dollars.

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