Handelsbanken enjoys 11% rise in lending to UK customers

BANKING group Handelsbanken, which recently opened a branch in Birmingham’s Edgbaston, has reported a strong set of annual results for its UK operation.

The 144-year-old bank – which originated in Sweden – has revealed an 11% rise in lending to British customers (Q4 2015 vs Q4 2014).

Over this period, UK business lending increased 8% to £10.36bn, while lending to personal banking customers rose 17% to £5.09bn. UK customer deposits increased 13% over the same period to £8.69bn.

The Handelsbanken team in Birmingham consists of three branches and a team of more than 30 experienced local bankers.

The newly opened Handelsbanken Edgbaston branch is one of the latest of 206 British branches.

Handelsbanken puts this continuing growth, including 19 new branches announced in 2015, down to a customer-led approach.

Tony Hall, manager of Handelsbanken’s Edgbaston branch, said: “The opening of our third Birmingham branch symbolises the confidence Handelsbanken holds in our model of local relationship banking and whilst other banks continue to contract we are pleased to report another record year for the bank and the UK bank.”

Anders Bouvin, Handelsbanken’s UK chief executive, added: “We know that having a local presence in the communities we serve is important to our customers.

“They value a personal relationship based on trust and responsibility, being able to talk to a decision-maker who knows their circumstances, which is a vital part of our traditional banking model.”