FöreningsSparbanken named Bank of the Year

FöreningsSparbanken has been named Bank of the Year for 2005 in the magazine Privata Affärer’s annual survey of Swedish banks. The jury’s motivation was as follows: “With more competitive mortgage rates, substantially higher savings rates, an improved web site and a range of mutual funds that includes outside funds, FöreningsSparbanken is a good example of how the major banks are now taking the competition from newcomers seriously. Moreover, FöreningsSparbanken has combined an improved product range with local proximity to customers through 484 branches in the country.” “I am pleased and proud that we have received this award. It is an acknowledgment that we have succeeded in combining the benefits of a large bank with a strong local presence and competitive offerings,” said Jan Lidén, President and CEO, FöreningsSparbanken. The jury for the Bank of the Year prize included Anders Andersson, publisher of Privata Affärer; Hans Bolander, editor in chief of Privata Affärer; Göran Jönsson, consultant and former head of the Swedish Consumers' Banking & Finance Bureau; and Vilhelm Noredenanckar from the Swedish Consumer Agency. For the last three years, FöreningsSparbanken has been named Commercial Bank of the Year in the business magazine Affärsvärlden’s Financial Barometer survey of the 2,000 largest companies and organizations in Sweden. For further information: Henrik Kolga, Head of Group Communications, FöreningsSparbanken, phone: +46-708-11 13 15 Jesper Berggren, Press Officer, FöreningsSparbanken, phone +46-70-549 37 67