Our role in society

A bank that acts sustainably and responsibly has a substantial positive impact on society in general.
Happy woman wearing overalls is standing in the garden. A man sits in the background.

In the community

The branch office in a central position

Our local bank branches play a central role in our operations and are responsible for the entire bank's work in their areas. By being close to our customers and understanding their needs, we can contribute to the development of local communities in a meaningful way. Our decentralised business model enables each office to make decisions locally, creating a close and long-term relationship with our customers and the communities in which we operate.

We are convinced that a well-functioning bank contributes to a stable infrastructure and sustainable economic development that benefits both individuals and societies.

A wide branch network

Handelsbanken has a nationwide branch network in our home markets of Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. We are also present in other markets to support our customers in their international business.

Locations
- Handelsbanken.se

Human rights

Respect for human rights is a fundamental prerequisite for long-term value creation. We support and respect the protection of human rights in our operations and comply with international conventions, such as the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

As part of this work, we have integrated several of the Sustainable Development Goals into our business operations and strategy.

The Sustainable Development Goals

Taxes

For us, tax is an important sustainability issue. We act responsibly and transparently in tax matters and always comply with applicable laws and regulations. We pay taxes in all the countries where we operate and openly report how much we pay in taxes and in which countries. Our profit before taxes and regulatory fees amounted to SEK 38.2 billion in 2024. This generated the following value:

  • SEK 7.9 billion in total tax, making Handelsbanken one of the largest payers of corporate tax in Sweden 
  • SEK 2.9 billion in resolution fees and other regulatory fees 
  • SEK 29.7 billion in proposed dividends to shareholders

More information can be found in our Annual and Sustainability Report. 

Reports and presentations
Pen in hand, signing documents.
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Financial crime

At Handelsbanken we have a Group-wide department dedicated to preventing financial crime. All employees of Handelsbanken, regardless of where they work in the Group, are obliged to follow the Bank’s regulations concerning financial crime and corruption. We have zero tolerance for financial crime in the Bank.

We have established several policies to help us stop and prevent financial crime. We have chosen not to conduct business with customers or businesses where the risk is considered high that the Bank will be used for financial crime. We also have routines and frameworks for dealing with conflicts of interest and corruption.

92 percent of all employees have been trained in anti-corruption, measures against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Policy documents and guidelines

Services for the public good

Value-based activities

Our values should be part of everything we do. Therefore, we encourage our local branch offices to get involved in activities that create value for the community. It can be about supporting youth sports, helping entrepreneurs or contributing to economic education.

Initiatives

Through our involvement in various collaborations and initiatives, we want to contribute to positive social development. We support research, education and the dissemination of knowledge through the foundations we fund, and through EFN Ekonomikanalen we offer free and independent financial journalism.

We see it as our responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable and well-informed future for our customers and society at large.

Initiatives
Handelsbanken.se

Whistleblowing – report irregularities

It is important for us to counteract risks and maintain confidence in our business operations. That is why we encourage our employees and other stakeholders to report suspected irregularities and unacceptable conditions. Report via our whistleblower system managed by WhistleB. All cases are treated confidentially and you can choose to report anonymously.

Whistleblowing