London, January 13, 2026, 08:04 GMT — Regular session
- NatWest shares edged up roughly 0.1% in early London trade, hovering around 640.8 pence
- Albert Hitchcock named independent director at the bank; Yasmin Jetha set to retire on March 31
- NatWest repurchased 842,883 shares on Jan. 12, according to a filing, at a VWAP of 640.01 pence
Shares of NatWest Group Plc (NWG.L) inched up roughly 0.1% to 640.8 pence by 0804 GMT, just above Monday’s 640.2 pence close. Early trading saw the stock fluctuate between 640.2 and 645.0 pence. 1
The board shake-up zeroes in on high-cost, behind-the-scenes banking areas: tech, cyber security, and operational risk. NatWest announced Albert Hitchcock will join as an independent non-executive director starting Feb. 16. Yasmin Jetha is set to leave on March 31. Chair Rick Haythornthwaite highlighted Hitchcock’s “over 30 years’ expertise across technology, cyber and AI.” 2
NatWest revealed another day of share buybacks, reinforcing a buyback programme that has steadily bolstered the stock. On Jan. 12, it repurchased 842,883 shares at a volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of 640.01 pence — a figure that reflects the average price weighted by trade size — and confirmed plans to cancel the shares. 3
Bank sentiment turned volatile on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump proposed capping credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, starting Jan. 20, without outlining specifics. Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Matt Britzman warned that a 10% cap would “upend the basic economics of the industry.” 4
Concerns weighed heavily on Barclays, pushing its shares down roughly 3.5% Monday. Britzman noted that the bank’s U.S. card business ranks ninth in that market and accounts for about 11% of overall group profits. 5
At NatWest, the board adjustment centers on oversight and strategy rather than immediate earnings impact. The buyback handles the basics — fewer shares, higher earnings per share — yet investors will watch closely how the bank deploys capital when results come out.
The risks lie beyond the steady stream of filings. Rate forecasts can shift quickly, and political plans may solidify into policy on unpredictable schedules. A sluggish UK economy would pressure credit quality and might tighten the margin for payouts.
NatWest will release its full-year results on Feb. 13 at 0700 GMT, unveiling guidance for 2026 along with fresh targets for 2028. Hitchcock joins the board just three days after that. 6
