Handelsbanken nominated in global innovation awards
Handelsbanken's innovative Green EU taxonomy loan has progressed to the next round of the Efma-Accenture Banking Innovation Awards, the only bank in Sweden to do so. Voting is now under way on the competition’s website.
“This is a concrete example of how we find a solution to a challenging problem by engaging in close dialogue with the customer,” says Tobias Lindbergh, Head of Sustainable Finance at Debt Capital Markets, Handelsbanken.
The global banking sector is in a process of major transition, where new technology and regulations are creating new challenges, but also new opportunities. The Efma-Accenture Banking Innovation Awards focus on evaluating and highlighting the most innovative projects, initiatives and ideas in the global banking sector. This year, the event attracted 816 innovations from 275 banks in 73 countries and the Awards Committee has selected nine entries in each of the categories to progress to the next round. Handelsbanken is one of nine banks nominated in the category Social, Sustainable and Responsible Banking.
“The proposed EU taxonomy criteria are very complex, and our EU taxonomy loan has allowed us to simplify matters for our customers and help them manage this complexity. The innovation also enables the rapid development of funding products that are compliant with the proposed criteria in the EU taxonomy, and, as such, is something that can be upscaled, should we wish to do so,” says Tobias Lindbergh, Head of Sustainable Finance at Debt Capital Markets, Handelsbanken.
Handelsbanken – an innovative bank
Earlier this year, Handelsbanken was acclaimed Sweden’s most innovative major bank, when Karlstad University for the third consecutive year conducted its Swedish Innovation Index survey.
“The fact that everyone at the Bank focuses on the customer creates a unique impetus for addressing customers’ specific needs and challenges. Our aim is quite simply to make things more straightforward for them,” says Stephan Erne, Chief Digital Officer at Handelsbanken.
About the Efma-Accenture Banking Innovation Awards
Since their inception in 2013, the awards have been a catalyst for innovation in the world of banking, demonstrating some of the most exciting and efficient innovations that make use of new technology, challenges and opportunities within the sector. An independent assessment and voting process ensures the credibility of the awards. EFMA is an international non-profit network for decision-makers in finance and insurance. Accenture is a global consulting company with operations in areas such as strategic consulting and digitalization.
How to vote
The vote will take place on the Award’s website: Award Contest 2021 | EFMA Banking Innovation create an account to voteduring the period 12-24 October 2021. The votes will go towards 50 per cent of the final result, of which 40 per cent from Efma members and 10 per cent from non-members. The remaining 50 per cent will come from the votes in an awards jury, consisting of members from all over the world.
