Hansabank

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Hansabank is a bank operating in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and in Russia owned by the FöreningsSparbanken/Swedbank, a Swedish bank.

It started initially as a branch of Tartu Kommertspank (Tartu Commercial Bank) in Estonia on 1 July 1991. Officially the independent operations started on 10 January 1992. Since first years it has expanded its operations extensively by setting up subsidiaries and acquiring other financial institutions (leasing, insurance, etc.) in Estonia as well in Latvia and Lithuania. In 1996 Hansabank Group was formed to cover all operations.

Since establishment in 1992, the group has grown from its nine founding members to the largest banking institution in the Baltic states, with 6,000 employees and 2.5 million active clients. At the middle of 2004 the group had over one million internet banking customers. The Group's total assets exceed 7.3 billion euros and shareholders' equity 0.7 billion euros (based on the 2004, 6 months results).

Hansabank operates under names: Hansapank (in Estonia), Hansabanka (in Latvia), Hansabankas (in Lithuania) and Hansabank in Russia and internationally.

Business unit	Scope of activities
Hansapank, Estonia	Retail banking, Corporate banking, Asset management, Investment management, Leasing (hire-purchase)
Hansabanka, Latvia	Retail banking, Corporate banking, Asset management, Financial markets, Leasing (hire-purchase)
Hansabankas, Lithuania	Retail banking, Corporate banking, Asset management, Leasing (hire-purchase)
Hansabank (Хансабанк), Russia	Trade financing, Asset management

Source: Hansabanka

The Swedish banking group Swedbank obtained 50% of the group shares in 1998. It now owns 100 % of Hansabank.

In the Baltic states, the main competitor of the Hansabank Group is the Swedish banking group SEB, which owns SEB Eesti Ühispank, SEB Unibanka and SEB Vilniaus bankas.