NatWest, the bank formerly known as RBS, announced that it has exceeded its ambitious target of lending £2 billion to female-led businesses by the end of 2025, reaching £2.84 billion across more than 55,900 loans – well ahead of schedule.

NatWest’s data reveals strong demand for funding by female led businesses from a wide range of sectors.

The top five sectors receiving support were Health, Leisure, Commercial Real Estate, Retail and Professional Services.

Regionally, lending was highest in London, closely followed by South-East, North-West, Scotland and the South-West, highlighting the vital contribution women-run firms make to local economies across the country

Robert Begbie, CEO, NatWest Commercial & Institutional, said: “We’re proud to be one of the leading banks in the UK for backing women in business. Surpassing our £2bn investment target ahead of schedule shows the strength and ambition of female-led companies.

“Our commitment is long-standing, with over 1,000 Women in Business specialists, more than half of our accelerator founders being women, and the launch of the first ever €500 million social bond for female-led businesses.”