What is the character of Nordic Baltic Holdings? To start with, it is the leading financial institution in the Nordic area. That in itself has a value because the market leader can to a certain degree set its own terms. It is an operation that is driven very much by customer need. I consider competence as the strongest means of competition. Many banks might say similar things – banks are not that different. Very much of the difference comes in implementation, who is talking and who is doing.
How do you characterize the Nordic banking industry?
Extremely efficient and in the forefront when it comes to technology. And it has a very demanding group of customers.
What makes the Nordic region ripe for bank consolidation?
The size in itself of the banks. That is why I work on the Nordic concept because I am trying to contribute to the redefinition of the markets. The fact that you are big in Sweden, for instance, does not necessarily mean that you are a very big bank. We are after having merged and merged now number 20 in Europe. Therefore it’s a question of the big European banks having an advantage when it comes to cost cutting and synergies that still can be achieved in these areas.