Sustainability and tech investments lead the way. Western European banks end the year with a growth spurt. Building on a profitable and dynamic 2023, when high interest rates buoyed bank lending margins, most Western European banks had a strong 2024, ending the year with a spurt in net income and revenue growth. Many increased their focus on sustainable finance (with green bonds as a major growth area), diversified their revenue streams, and invested in new banking technology—modernizing