CEO Today Europe Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com 50 CEO Today Europe Awards 2018 sweden BIRGITTE BONNESEN CEO of Swedbank ABOUT BIRGITTE BONNESEN Birgitte Bonnesen is President and CEO at Swedbank since 2016. She has been employed by the bank since 1987 and held several senior positions including Head of Swedish Banking, Head of Baltic banking, Chief Audit Executive, Head of internal Audit and Head of Global Financial Institutions and Trade finance. Since 2017 she is the Chairman of the Swedish Banking Association and she I also part of the advisory board at the Centre for Business and Policy Studies (SNS) in Sweden. FIRM PROFILE With over seven million private customers and 600 000 corporate customers, Swedbank is the leading bank for the many households and businesses in four home markets: Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Swedbank is active mainly in the product areas loans, payments and savings and serve customers with simple as well as more complex needs. Swedbank has a customer-centric strategy that rests on four pillars: available full-service bank, personalised offers, high cost efficiency and low risk. The strategy is based on a vision to enable people, businesses and society to grow at the same time to promote a sound and sustainable financial situation for the many households and businesses. Swedbank’s mission statement includes the bank acting as a positive force in society. It is therefore natural that the group is involved in various community projects, local as well as across borders. While the projects differ in purpose, extent and geography, the goal remains the same – to be a good corporate citizen that strengthens society and its individual members. Swedbank monitor areas that are important for private finances. We analyze and examine how policy decisions and changes in circumstances affecting individuals and households, and work actively to educate the public about personal finance and savings Swedbank is engaged in social issues as education, youth unemployment and entrepreneurship. Initiatives that help young people to be financially sustainable are important for society’s development as well as for the bank’s business. As a major bank, they are a significant part of the financial system and play an important role in the local communities. Swedbank’s vision, purpose and values Vision : Swedbank enable people, businesses and society to grow. Purpose : Swedbank is promoting a sound and sustainable financial situation for the many households and businesses. The bank’s values express engagement and longterm value creation. The values are based on openness, simplicity and caring. Open Swedbank want to be a straight-forward, honest and reliable partner. Customers and other stakeholders should feel welcome and secure with the services and actions. Swedbank believes in development and are open to new ideas, new people and new ways to serve their customers and society. Simple Swedbank’s services and employees must be easily accessible and easy to understand. The bank’s advice is adapted to each customer’s needs, and give them the financial tools to handle life’s challenges and opportunities. Swedbank want to create a friendly, uncomplicated banking experience for everyone. Caring Everything the bank do, it’s based on the customers’ needs. Swedbank help their customers to make sound decisions and achieve goals in a sustainable way. Swedbank’s employees are helpful and reliable. The employees take pride in keeping the promises. They are committed to the mission of improving the long-term financial health of people, businesses and society. Swedbank’s history Swedbank has its roots in the Swedish savings bank movement, which dates back to 1820. Sweden’s savings banks were founded to help people achieve a higher standard of living and greater security through financial planning. Swedbank’s operations are still based on the same goal: to help the many people and businesses achieve a solid financial sustainability. This means a balanced economy that ensures the well- being of the individual as well as society as a whole. With “the many”, we mean to stress that Swedbank is an inclusive bank, rather than exclusive. Swedbank’s core business serves a large spectrum of individuals as well as small and medium- sized companies. They believe in a traditional banking model focused on close customer relationships and advice. Swedbank’s employees are attentive to customers’ wishes and act accordingly. The focus must be on their clients’ needs, not the products. This is reflected in their values.