Handelsbanken to call subordinated loan

Handelsbanken will redeem the below specified perpetual subordinated
loan amounting to GBP 275 million at the first call date on 4 March
2009.

Facts:

ISIN:                           XS0144223582
Issuer:                          Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ)
Amount:                       GBP 275,000,000
Coupon:                       6.125%
Initial Call Date:            4 March 2009
Call Price:                     100%

Written consent from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority has
been received.


For further information, please contact:

Ulf Riese, Executive Vice President and      +46 8-22 92 20
CFO
Mikael Hallåker, Head of Investor Relations  +46 8-701 29 95
                                             mobile: +46 70-266 29 95