Local relationship bank Handelsbanken, which has a well-established profile in Staffordshire, has reported its best-ever UK annual results.
The bank posted its highest income, best operating result, and highest return on equity to date for 2023. Results before credit losses were up by 59 per cent year-on-year to a record £480m.
The overall deposit book has increased and total income is also up 32 per cent to £928.2m.
Handelsbanken, which was first established in Sweden, has an extensive network of branches in the UK, including one on Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, and another in Stafford.
Locally, an increase in overall deposits and operating profits have supported the record national picture.
Lee Vickers, branch manager of Handelsbanken’s Stoke-on-Trent branch, which is run by a team of 13 local bankers, said: “Customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do. Each of our customers have direct access to a dedicated account manager, who seeks to build long-term relationships, built on trust, through providing an outstanding level of customer service.
“Our experienced team have been providing personal banking, corporate banking and wealth management services here in Stoke-on-Trent since 2004. Our decentralised operating model empowers the branch team, allowing the majority of decisions which matter to our customers to be taken locally.”
Mikael Sørensen, UK CEO, said: “Our record results reflect both the success of our unique business model, and our never-ending commitment to customer satisfaction and cost control.
“We realise that the economic landscape is changing, but as we move into the next financial year we are confident that our very strong position means we will be able to support our customers and help them to thrive, come what may.”
