Handelsbanken UK marks 40-year anniversary with best ever quarterly results

Recently named the safest commercial bank in Europe, Handelsbanken’s unique offering delivers increased operating profit

Summary of UK Q3 results January – September 2022 figures compared with January – September 2021(1): 

  • UK result before credit losses up by 81% to £193.0m 
  • UK operating profits up by 69% to £193.5m 
  • UK income increased by 19% to £483.7m
  • UK lending down 4% to £20.1bn
  • UK deposits up 4% to £19.8bn: household deposits up 5% to £5.7bn, corporate deposits up 3% to £14.1bn 

Handelsbanken UK reported a 69% increase in operating profits to £193.5m thanks to strong income development and lower costs. The return on equity was a healthy 12.9%.

The latest results which are Handelsbanken UK’s best ever quarterly figures, build on Q2 results which were the Bank’s previous best ever quarterly results.

Mikael Sorensen, Handelsbanken UK’s CEO said: “These solid results mark not only our best quarter, but our best nine months ever. In such a volatile economic environment, we particularly welcome this news. 

“Financial strength and stability is a cornerstone of Handelsbanken as acknowledged in the recent rating of Handelsbanken as the safest commercial bank in Europe (2). We have always seen it as our responsibility to support our customers through the good and more challenging times and are grateful for the trust that our customers place in us as shown in the 4% increase in UK deposits compared to last year.

 “The results also testify to the business advantages of our decentralised model. Within this model colleagues are empowered to make business decisions at a local level to build sustainable, long-term customer relationships. 

“Customers can access both routine banking services and investment advice in one place and benefit from speaking to a branch team of experts who really understand their customer and their financial circumstances.”

Handelsbanken launched in the UK in 1982 and, over the years, has developed its UK business based on customer demand for its personal approach to banking. 

In December 2018, in a demonstration of its long-term commitment to the UK, Handelsbanken became a fully licensed UK bank, Handelsbanken plc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of its Swedish parent, Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ). 

For the 14th year in a row, Handelsbanken has been ranked top for customer satisfaction, for both personal and business banking, in an independent survey by EPSI Rating Group(3). In addition, for the ninth time, the Bank has topped recommendations for relationship-led banking in the Competition and Markets Authority’s independent service quality survey for business banking, the results of which were most recently published in August 2022(4).

Handelsbanken plc has been assigned a long-term credit rating of AA with a stable outlook by international credit ratings agency, Fitch. Handelsbanken plc also has a long-term credit rating of AA- with a stable outlook by international credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s. The ratings are the same as those given for the subsidiary’s Swedish parent, Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ), and confirm the Bank’s strength, stability and creditworthiness. 

Handelsbanken continues to invest in its UK infrastructure, strengthening its foundations for ongoing growth and securing its long-term presence in the UK.

- ENDS -

For more information please contact: 

Sonia Rothwell, External Communications Manager UK

sonia.rothwell@handelsbanken.co.uk

+44 (0)7790 887513


Notes to editors

1  Please note that the release reports Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)’s UK segment figures for Q3 2022. Segment reporting presents income / expenses and assets / liabilities broken down by business segments. A business segment is a part of the Group and runs operations which generate external or internal income and expenses; and of which the profit / loss is regularly assessed and followed up by the company management, as part of corporate governance

2 Global Finance magazine, September 19, 2022 https://d2tyltutevw8th.cloudfront.net/media/document/press-release-worlds-safest-bank-awards-2022-w-1663602256.pdf Opens in a new window

3 EPSI Rating, September 19, 2022. For more information, please visit – https://www.epsi-rating.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EPSI-Bank-2022-UK.pdf Opens in a new window 

4  CMA Business Banking Quality survey August 2022 https://www.bva-bdrc.com/products/business-banking-service-quality-great-britain/ Opens in a new window

5  Handelsbanken Plc Credit Ratings : Fitch Ratings. To see other agencies’ ratings please visit our investor relations page: https://www.handelsbanken.com/en/investor-relations/debt-investors Opens in a new window

For photos and logos, please visit: www.handelsbanken.co.uk/media.

Handelsbanken is the trading name of Handelsbanken plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales with company number 11305395. Registered office: 3 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1WY, UK. Handelsbanken plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Financial Services Register number 806852.

Handelsbanken plc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ).

Handelsbanken was established in Stockholm in 1871 and in Sweden, it is one of the country’s leading banks with a nationwide branch network. The Bank’s home markets are Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and the UK. It also has operations in Luxembourg and the USA.

In the UK, Handelsbanken is a relationship bank with a decentralised way of working, a strong local presence due to a nationwide network of branches, and a long-term approach to customer relations. Handelsbanken specialises in providing personalised and competitive banking services to both businesses, individuals, and property investors, and offers wealth and investment management services through its UK subsidiary Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management. Each Handelsbanken branch operates as a small business enabling it to make decisions at a local level and provide a bespoke service. The focus is always on the need of the individual customer and not on the sale of specific products.

For information regarding sustainability at Handelsbanken, please see here: https://www.handelsbanken.co.uk/en/about-us/sustainability.