The Vikings have landed!

ONE year on from arriving in Warrington, Swedish bank Handelsbanken is going from strength to strength.
Handelsbanken would make its Viking ancestors proud and now has more than 70 branches in Britain.
What makes it unique is that unlike the big high-street banks, which refer all lending decisions to a credit-checking department at head office, each Handelsbanken branch is run by its branch manager, who has the power to make loans – local decisions made by a local manager – helping cut through the red tape.
When a bank can post record results during the worst quarter in living memory for financial markets, while producing higher-than-average returns on equity compared with its peers for a number of years, it must be doing something right.
Handelsbanken posted a 39% quarter-on-quarter jump in operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2008 and has taken up a big chunk of the market share in deposits and new lending in the past year.
Warrington’s branch manager Dennis Evans believes much of the bank’s success has been down to traditional banking values, where a bank provides a service to its local community.
“This is good old fashioned banking,” said Dennis.
“Ninety nine per cent of the decisions are made on the front line at our branch,” he added. “There is no point someone sitting in an office in Stockholm making a decision for someone in Warrington. Our decisions are made here at the coalface!
“Since we launched in Warrington we have been making steady progress. Our staff do not have to work to sales targets, so there is no pressure selling.
“The feedback from our customers has been very positive and we have made a commitment to our local community, sourcing everything possible from the local market.
Handelsbanken offers Corporate banking, typically dealing with established £1m turnover businesses. Individual banking customers are typically directors, partners in professional practices, senior managers, business owners and local entrepreneurs. In both these areas it can offer the full banking package including internet connectivity.
“Our bank doesn’t pay staff bonuses and hasn’t had to turn to anybody for help during the current economic downturn either by way of rights issue or asset sale,” added Dennis.
Handelsbanken has already shown its commitment to supporting the local community, showing support for the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, Warrington Grassroots and even supplying a giant Swedish flag to Warrington Town FC’s Supporter’s Club.
The team at Handelsbanken consists of Branch Manager Dennis, Corporate Manager Chris Clarke, Individual Banking Manager Karen McComb and Account Manager Support Jason Burgess who are all pictured above.
For more details call Dennis on 01925 575705 or visit www.handelsbanken.co.uk/warrington