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Survey: Only 11% of Finnish companies are using AI strategically – however, investments are growing

Finnish companies are increasing their investments in artificial intelligence, but most only view AI as a cost-cutting opportunity. Around 11% of organisations are leveraging AI in line with a clear strategic focus on meeting customer needs.A recent survey by OP Pohjola and Accenture, "Unlocking AI value in Finnish organisations", shows that investments in AI are growing strongly. Almost 40% of Finnish companies believe that their AI investments will grow by at least 25% over the next two years. Only 20% believe that investment will plateau or decrease. However, the greatest potential

OP Pohjola increases security by adding security limits to all personal customers' Current Accounts

OP Pohjola will set daily and transfer-specific security limits for all its personal customers' Current Accounts in stages during 2026. The customer can adjust the security limits as needed. Currently, customers have set security limits themselves for just over 20 per cent of personal customer accounts.OP Pohjola is increasing the security of its customers' funds by adding security limits to all personal customer Current Accounts during 2026. Security limits for the Current Accounts of customers with digital IDs will be set at the beginning of June. Security limits for the Current Accounts

Over 3,000 summer jobs for young people supported by OP Pohjola are now open for applications across the country

Since 2015, OP Pohjola has enabled approximately 20,000 summer jobs for young people. The nationwide Summer Jobs Paid for by OP campaign will be organised for the twelfth time in 2026.The Summer Jobs Paid for by OP campaign is offering over 3,000 jobs to 15–17-year-olds all over Finland this summer. In the campaign, OP cooperative banks support associations to hire a young person for two weeks. Through the campaign, the OP cooperative bank pays the young person's salary for two weeks to the association that acts as the young person's employer. Applications for summer jobs can be

OP Pohjola publishes an overview of its climate work

OP Pohjola's transition plan brings together OP Pohjola's climate work targets, actions and progress. The transition plan shows how OP Pohjola reduces its climate impact and supports its customers' transition towards a world envisioned by the Paris Agreement."The financial sector plays a key role in accelerating the green transition. OP Pohjola is one of Finland's largest providers of financing, and we want to support our customers in their transition towards more low-emission solutions," says Katja Keitaanniemi, Executive Vice President of Corporate Banking. Keitaanniemi is in charge of

OP Pohjola sets new climate targets and makes national security of supply part of its sustainability programme

OP Pohjola's updated sustainability programme came into effect at the beginning of 2026. Strengthening national security of supply was incorporated as a new objective into the sustainability programme.The sustainability programme guides the corporate responsibility work carried out throughout OP Pohjola and sets more precise and ambitious goals for it. The update tightened climate targets and added new measures to several themes of the programme, such as the responsible use of artificial intelligence.  "The need for sustainable development has not disappeared. While ensuring national

OP Pohjola survey: Chinese online stores are particularly popular among men for their Christmas shopping – product safety requires special attention

According to OP Pohjola’s card data, the popularity of Chinese online stores has grown significantly in recent years. Chinese online stores are clearly more tempting for Christmas shopping for men than women in Finland. Even though the cheap prices and wide range of products can be tempting, the insufficient product safety, particularly of rechargeable electronics, may increase the risk of fire.Christmas shopping is at its busiest at the moment. According to a survey by OP Pohjola, 35% of the respondents buy all their presents in person, such as in department stores or brick-and-mortar

Over 1,000 owner-customers elected to the Representative Assembly of OP cooperative banks

In November, 30 of OP Pohjola's cooperative banks held the election of their Representative Assemblies where owner-customers elected from among them the Representative Assembly for their own bank for four years.In the November election, over 1,000 members from among over 4,300 candidates were elected to the Representative Assemblies of OP cooperative banks. “We are glad that 150,000 owner-customers gave their votes in this election. Those elected included a diverse range of people, such as students, employees, executives, entrepreneurs and pensioners. A good Representative Assembly

Large companies are preparing for the end of hostilities – post-war Ukraine opens up business opportunities

One in three large companies have explored business opportunities in Ukraine in the event that hostilities cease. Nearly 90% of large companies would be prepared to contribute to Finland's national defence even if it was not optimal in business terms.Around one in three large companies in Finland have explored business opportunities in Ukraine in the event that hostilities cease, according to OP Pohjola's Survey of Large Corporations. Most commonly, large companies have explored potential customers and markets in Ukraine, but many companies have also investigated Ukraine as a potential

Composition of OP Cooperative's Board of Directors in 2026

On 4 December 2025, the Supervisory Council of OP Cooperative (the central cooperative of OP Pohjola) elected the members of the Board of Directors of OP Cooperative for the term of office from 1 January to 31 December 2026.Outi Henriksson, M.Sc. (Econ. & Bus. Adm.) (b. 1969), and Markku Sotarauta, D.Adm.Sc. (b. 1963), were elected as new members of the Board of Directors of OP Cooperative. Outi Henriksson has served as Chief Financial Officer in several sectors during her career, most recently at Aktia Bank from 2017 to 2024. Her executive team responsibilities have covered a wide range

Large companies: Chinese and Nordic companies are the biggest threat – the solution is to dismantle bureaucracy

Large companies see streamlining official processes as the most important way to strengthen Finland's international competitiveness. The biggest risk is perceived to be being outpaced by Chinese and Nordic companies.Almost every third (31%) large Finnish company sees being overtaken by Chinese companies as a major risk to their strategy, according to OP Pohjola's large company survey. Swedish and other Nordic companies are seen as the second most common risk, with a quarter of large companies considering being left behind by them as a major risk.  Significantly fewer are worried about

OP's Survey of Large Corporations: Large corporations no longer believe in the Finnish government’s ability to balance public finances

A fifth of large corporations believe that public finances are being balanced. Of all the measures implemented by the Finnish government, large corporations assess that cuts to corporate tax are the most impactful.As indicated by OP's Survey of Large Corporations, around 68% of big businesses find that Finnish political leadership causes uncertainty for companies. Faith in the balancing of public finances is especially being tested. In 2023, when Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s government had just started, 36% of large corporations believed that public finances would be balanced. Only 22%

OP Pohjola paid over EUR 386 million in corporate tax

The total amount of corporate tax paid by OP Pohjola companies in 2024 exceeded EUR 386 million. OP Pohjola uses a considerable proportion of its earnings for the benefit of Finnish society: by paying taxes, paying OP bonuses and providing other financial benefits to its owner-customers and by strengthening its capital base, that is, its ability to finance and serve its customers. "We are one of the biggest taxpayers in Finland. By paying a considerable amount of tax, we carry our responsibility for Finnish society and its wellbeing. Promoting the sustainable prosperity of our operating

The euro has already appreciated by more than 11 per cent against the dollar – Finnish companies are reacting quickly

The currency market has once again demonstrated its unpredictability. The euro has appreciated by more than 11 per cent against the dollar this year. Although OP's analysts predict that the price trend will stabilise towards the end of the year, uncertainty will remain higher than usual.The appreciation of the euro, the single currency of the euro area, against the US dollar, the Chinese yuan and the British pound is challenging Finnish export companies, whose profitability is linked to exchange rate movements. During the current year, the euro has appreciated by more than 11 per cent

Election of Representative Assemblies of OP cooperative banks will offer 1.7 million the opportunity to vote

OP Pohjola's 30 cooperative banks will hold the election of the Representative Assembly, where owner-customers elected from among them the Representative Assembly for their own bank for four years. The election will be held between 3 and 13 November 2025. More than 1,000 members will be elected to the Assemblies. The Representative Assembly exercises the highest decision-making powers in the bank and is an important link between customers and the bank.Over 4,300 candidates will participate in the election held in November, and over 1,000 members will be elected to the Representative

OP survey: Nearly half of Finns would like to retire before the official retirement age

A survey conducted by OP Financial Group reveals that Finns hope to retire well before the official retirement age. Most dream of early retirement because they want to spend time on something other than work. However, early retirement requires financial planning.A survey commissioned by OP Financial Group shows that as many as 48 percent of Finns would like to retire before the official retirement age while a quarter would not want to retire early and just under a third are unsure. The desire for early retirement is particularly strong among those aged 35–49, with over half wanting to

OP survey: Differences in the ways women and men prepare for death – income level also plays a big role

People with a family prepare for their death more commonly than people living alone. Of people aged 65 and over, around a third have made a will, and one in four have done "death cleaning".According to a survey by OP Financial Group, nearly half of people in Finland have not prepared for their death in any way. Death preparation correlates with age: the older the respondent, the more likely they have taken measures in anticipation of their death. While 57 per cent of 26–34-year-olds have not made any preparations for their death, the share among respondents aged 65 and over drops to only

Redemption orders placed for the real estate funds of OP Fund Management Company in the second half of 2024 to be paid out in July – markets show tentative signs of recover

Following the tentative signs of recovery felt in the real estate market, redemption orders placed in the second half of 2024 for the real estate special common funds managed by OP Fund Management Company will be paid out to investors according to the original schedule in July 2025. New redemption orders have been suspended since 31 December 2024. The temporary suspension of redemption and subscription orders for the special common funds and the 50% decrease in the management fees of the funds will remain in effect.On 31 December 2024, OP-Public Services Real Estate and OP-Rental Yield

OP: Women more bullish than men in the early months of 2025 – buy orders accounted for as much as 92% of all orders by women

In the first few months of the year, women engaged in less back-and-forth trading in their investment portfolios compared to men. Data by OP clearly shows that in the early months of 2025, women were more consistently net buyers as investors compared to men, which may explain the better long-term returns on investment enjoyed by women. Despite this, women still invested smaller amounts than men.As many as 92% of all investment transactions by women between January and April were buy orders. Among men, the figure was 84%. The data includes orders for mutual funds, stocks and ETFs executed

Private leasing accounts for nearly one in every ten new cars and as many as one fifth of low-emission cars

Car sales are still sluggish, but private leasing has lowered the bar for trying out electric cars and plug-in hybrids. As many as one in five low-emission cars purchased by consumer customers is financed through leasing. In addition to being climate-friendly, new cars are also safer on the road.Sales of new cars have been sluggish in Finland for several years, and the first months of 2025 were no exception. According to the Finnish Information Centre of Automobile Sector, the number of first-time car registrations* from January to May 2025 was down 8% from the same period last year.

OP's economists' housing market review: Uncertainty diminishes part of the price increase – According to Carrie Bradshaw index, Vöyri is the most affordable place to live for singles in Finland

OP Financial Group's economists predict that home prices will rise by two percent this year, and the price increase will slightly accelerate next year. Growing uncertainty is affecting the pace of growth this year, but the gradual recovery of the housing market continues.In terms of volume, the housing market has been picking up for a year now. However, prices have not yet been on the increase compared to a year ago. According to OP Financial Group's economists' forecast, home prices will rise by an average of 2 percent this year. The forecast has been lowered by one percentage point from

OP Financial Group teams up with Hive coding school as main partner – Hive alumni employed by more than 100 businesses in five years

OP Financial Group will begin to sponsor the Hive coding school, originally founded by Supercell. In five years, a total of 245 Hive alumni have been employed by businesses operating in Finland.OP Financial Group will begin to support the Hive coding school with Supercell. The objective of the partnership is to increase technological expertise in Finland. "For some time, OP Financial Group has recruited international IT professionals for positions for which there isn't enough local talent in Finland. At the same time, Finland's working-age population is decreasing. Without work-based

OP survey: Nearly half of women would struggle with home loan payments if the other party to the loan were to die

The death of a spouse would put many people in Finland in a tight financial situation, a survey by OP Financial Group shows. Women in particular estimate that they would struggle with their home loan payments if the other party to the loan were to die.According to the survey by OP Financial Group, 37 per cent of those who share a home loan with another person estimate that it would be difficult or very difficult for them to manage their loan payments if the co-borrower were to die unexpectedly. This was the response of 29 per cent of men and 45 per cent of women. "If the loan amount is

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