Strong Financial Performance
The result for the third quarter increased by 9% to SEK 9.4 billion. Return on equity was 18.4%, and earnings per share were SEK 8.30.
Improved Cost Management
Costs decreased according to plan with a cost-to-income ratio of 0.31. A temporary hiring freeze and lower consulting costs contributed to this improvement.
Capital and Liquidity Strength
Swedbank has a strong capital position with a buffer of 5.2 percentage points and a CET1 capital ratio of 20.4%.
Positive Rating Outlook
Standard & Poor's raised their outlook on Swedbank to positive, reflecting strong anti-money laundering efforts.
Baltic Market Growth
Lending increased in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, with corporate lending growing by SEK 6 billion in the Baltics.
Sustainability Initiatives
One-third of bonds arranged were sustainability bonds, and Swedbank issued its first green covered bond.