OP-Pohjola Group, for which Pohjola Bank plc acts as a central bank, is the leading full - service financial Group in Finland. At the end of 2007 the Group's market share of euro denominated credits was over 31%, of euro denominated deposits over 32%, of mutual funds registered in Finland over 21%, insurance savings over 19% and total balance sheet over EUR 59 billion. The Group has a solid market position in Finland, and the number of the customers exceeds 4 million.
OP-Pohjola Group offers banking and insurance services to households, corporates and investors through its 229 member co-operative banks that have 625 branches. Devoted to developing state-of-the-art banking services, the Group offers a wide range of electronic banking services and has more than 1.1 million e-banking clients.
The central institution for the Group is Pohjola Bank plc (est. 1902), a listed financial service company providing banking, investment and non-life insurance services and acting as the central bank for the member co-operative banks. Pohjola Bank provides services for large and medium-sized corporates, operates in FX, money and capital markets and takes care of the Group's international activities.
The bank adopted the name Pohjola Bank 1 March 2008 as part of the integration of the banking services (former OKO Bank plc) with non-life insurance services (former insurance company Pohjola Group). OP-Pohjola Group changed it`s name already earlier.
The member banks engage in retail banking in their own territory. They all keep their Finnish names.
The OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative together with its subsidiaries supports the operations of the member banks by offering them information technology and product development-related services as well as other services needed in the banking business.
The leading Finnish Retail Bank
OP-Pohjola Group, for which Pohjola Bank plc acts as a central bank, is the leading full - service financial Group in Finland. At the end of 2007 the Group's market share of euro denominated credits was over 31%, of euro denominated deposits over 32%, of mutual funds registered in Finland over 21%, insurance savings over 19% and total balance sheet over EUR 59 billion.
The OP-Pohjola Group has a total of about 4 million customers. Everythird Finn and small or medium-sized companies considers the OP-Pohjola Group to be its main bank. Among farmers and forest owners the Group has a share of about 60 per cent of the country's bank customers.
The OP-Pohjola Group has a nationwide network of branch offices. They are supported by cash dispensers and payment ATMs, telebanking service as well as Internet and other electronic banking services.
The OP-Pohjola Group is in the forefront of the world's banks in the development of electronic services. A number of electronic banking services have made their world debut in Finland - and the OP-Pohjola Group has been the first to introduce them.
The bank group's operations will nevertheless be based in future, as in the past, on a multichannel model which gives the branch offices, telebanking services and ATMs a clearly defined task.
OP-Pohjola Group`s excellent capital adequacy and good profitability enable it to gear its operations towards growth and strengthen its market position. OP-Pohjola Group offers comprehensive financial services in Finland to both private and corporate customers. The most ambitious growth targets for market share are in asset management services, payment transfers and consumer and corporate lending. Geographically, the targets are the most ambitious in those parts of Finland where the Group`s market share is lowest at the present time. All the member banks will seek to outpace the market in their own territory. OP-Pohjola Group may also expand its own service network into neighbouring regions in the Baltic countries and Russia.
OP-Pohjola Group`s strategy processes are characterised by an extensive internal discussion and interaction. Representatives of companies that belong to the Group take part in various stages of the process. The OP-Pohjola Group`s Central Cooperative`s Supervisory Board plays a key role in defining the strategic foundation and in formulating the actual strategy.
Pohjola Bank`s strategy was updated in 2006. One of the key priorities of this strategy update included the intensified integration of banking and insurance services. Pohjola Bank places a strong emphasis on its profitability and effective capital management. It seeks growth in all of its business divisions – but not at the expense of profitability – supported by OP-Pohjola Group`s broad customer base and Finland`s most renowned banking and insurance brands. Pohjola Bank has the goal of becoming the market leader in corporate banking, non-life insurance and asset management services.
Key Figures
Consolidated Key Figures OP Pohjola Group and OP Bank PLC in 2008 |
Balance sheet total (€ bn) | 75,7 |
Loans, advances (€ bn) | 51,0 |
Deposits and Savings (€ bn) | 34,5 |
Equity – Group share (€ bn) | 5,2 |
Net result before tax (in € millions) | 372 |
Capital Adequacy Ratio | 12,7% |
Outlets | 604 |
Regional / local banks | 227 |
Number of customers | 4,1 mn |
Number of staff | 12.378 |
Domestic Market Share ~Credit
~ Savings and Deposits |
32,1%
33,8%
|
Contact
Pohjola Bank plc
PO BOX 308
FI-00013 Helsinki
Finland
Tel. +358.10.252.011
http://www.pohjola.com/