Best bank:
Svenska Handelsbanken
Best debt house:
Citigroup/Schroder Salomon Smith Barney
Best equity house:
Enskilda Securities
Best M&A house:
Enskilda Securities
| Eirik Winter | ||||||
Svenska Handelsbanken's performance in its home country wins it the award for best bank in Sweden as well as in the region as a whole. It has continued to improve its position in the retail sector. Its introduction of its E-Bud platform, aimed at smoothing the way for homebuyers and vendors in Sweden through online property auctions, is just one example of the innovative spirit that not only characterises Handelsbanken's operations but those of Nordic banking in general. Use of new technology to maximize income and improve cross-selling is of paramount importance in Handelsbanken's strategy.
E-Bud has also helped consolidate Handelsbanken's position in the crucial mortgage market. The internet also offers the bank the opportunity to further decentralize its operations, with local branches given the freedom to create their own websites.