Sparbanken Nord acquires four local branch offices

Press Release 17th of March 2009

Sparbanken Nord acquires four local branch offices

Swedbank has agreed to the acquisition by Sparbanken Nord of its local branch
offices in Kiruna, Pajala, Överkalix and Övertorneå. Through the acquisition
Sparbanken Nord together with Swedbank strengthens its full customer offering in
the four counties.  
Swedbank and Sparbanken Nord already have an existing established collaboration
today which continues. Sparbanken Nord has great potential to drive the local
banking business in smaller towns and the country side. The collaboration with
Swedbank is vital for Sparbanken Nord's future development to nurture a
professional and cost effective bank service in Norrbotten. At the same time
Sparbanken Nord can extend its local community engagement in these regions.  

”We have a long term collaboration with Sparbanken Nord which we are now
strengthening further. We look forward to a continued successful partnership in
which our joint customer offerings can be developed further, says Tomas Lejon,
Managing Director of Swedbank in Norrbotten. 

”It's a great pleasure to have the opportunity to further strengthen our local
presence and contribute to the development of Kiruna, Pajala, Överkalix and
Övertorneå. We are convinced that the deal will be of advantage to our
customers, colleagues and local development in the four counties, says Erik
Hägglöv, CEO of Sparbanken Nord. We want to continue to be a positive drive
force in the local community through actively supporting culture, education and
the local industry. 

All employees at the offices in Kiruna, Pajala, Överkalix and Övertorneå are
invited to join the new organisation. Consequent to the acquisition Swedbank
will make a capital gain of SEK 206 million. 

We will host local press conferences around the announcement in Luleå and Piteå
at the times indicated below: 

Luleå
When: 17th of March at 13.00
Where: Swedbank,  Köpmangatan 34

Piteå
When: 17th of March at 15.00
Where: Sparbanken Nord, Storgatan 43

Welcome!


For further information:
Tomas Lejon, Managing Director, Swedbank Norrbotten, telephone: +46 70 66 79 130
Erik Hägglöv, CEO, Sparbanken Nord, telephone: + 46 70 69 66 110
Anna Sundblad, Press Officer, Swedbank, telephone: +46 70 321 39 95




Swedbank's vision is to be the leading financial institution in the markets
where we are present. Swedbank has 9.4 million retail customers and 600,000
corporate customers with 419 branches in Sweden, 278 branches in the Baltic
countries and another 215 branches in Ukraine. The group is also present in
Copenhagen, Helsinki, Kaliningrad, Luxembourg, Moscow, New York, Oslo, Shanghai,
St. Petersburg and Tokyo. As of December 2008 the group had total assets of SEK
1,812 billion and approximately 21,000 employees. For more information about
Swedbank, please visit www.swedbank.com.