Best bank 2025: OP Financial Group
OP Financial Group rode 2024 with standout financial momentum, bold sustainability milestones and tech-driven customer experiences that surpassed expectations across Finland’s banking landscape.
The bank’s operating profit surged 21% to €2.486 billion ($2.89 billion) as rising rates and tight cost control lifted net interest income, while capital adequacy remained a hallmark of resilience with a CET1 ratio of 21.5%, around eight percentage points above regulatory minima. Momentum was strong in retail banking: OP retained almost 40% of Finland’s deposit market and 39% of the home-loan market and rewarded its 2.1 million owner-customers by boosting the OP-bonus accrual for 2024 by 40%, taking total bonuses past €300 million.
Strategically, the co-operative sharpened its long-term sustainability and skills agenda. In 2024 it hit net-zero emissions in its own operations a full year ahead of its 2025 target, reinforcing a climate roadmap that runs through 2050. The bank also leveraged its six-year partnership with the University of Helsinki to improve financial literacy and embed research into sustainable finance. Both moves underpin the refreshed group strategy presented in the 2024 annual report, which places “Prosperity through responsibility” at its core.
Customer-facing innovation was another area of priority. June brought the launch of OP Aina, Finland’s first 24/7 AI-driven assistant that proactively flags relevant banking or insurance events inside OP-mobile and op.fi. OP Financial Group’s app gained new functionality, such as in-app opening of equity savings accounts, while legacy overlap was trimmed with the launch of the Pivo mobile wallet in September. Together the moves signal a shift toward fewer, richer digital touchpoints rather than a proliferation of stand-alone apps.
Behind the scenes, OP deepened its technology stack. A people-centric automation programme rolled out with Finnish IT software company Tietoevry helped streamline core processes, while an internal data-culture push is embedding analytics in everyday decision-making – from risk to marketing.
Best investment bank 2025: BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas has delivered outstanding performance in investment banking across Finland, demonstrating robust expertise and leadership especially in debt capital markets (DCM), equity capital markets (ECM), and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).
BNPP has played a pivotal role in DCM, advising on more than half of bond market volumes in Finland, securing a dominant number one ranking in DCM net revenues among non-Nordic investment banks and fourth overall, Dealogic data shows.
The bank played a significant role as a joint bookrunner for substantial green bond transactions, including two green bonds by Fingrid totalling €1 billion ( $1.17 billion), and a €600 million green bond by UPM-Kymmene.
In the ECM arena, BNPP demonstrated its capacity to manage high-profile and high-value transactions. This includes their advisory role in the US IPO of Amer Sports and its subsequent €1.027 billion accelerated bookbuilding. These achievements have made the bank the fifth-ranking entity in terms of ECM net revenues in Finland, according to Dealogic.
Its skill in significant M&A transactions is evident, with the bank ranking fourth in M&A net revenues within the region. Noteworthy advisory roles include the complex demerger and Nasdaq Helsinki listing of Cargotec’s Kalmar, and the strategic divestment of Nokia’s submarine networks business ASN to the French state. These transactions underscore their proficiency in navigating intricate deals that have substantial impacts on the client’s strategic outcomes.
BNPP’s performance across investment banking in the country sees it recognised as Euromoney’s best investment bank in Finland.
Best digital bank 2025: Nordea Bank Abp
Nordea Bank has effectively consolidated its position as Finland’s leading digital bank through a series of strategic initiatives and technological advancements. Throughout the year, the bank has demonstrated remarkable depth in delivering user-friendly digital solutions directly responding to customer needs and preferences in Finland’s fast-evolving banking sector.
A pivotal element of Nordea’s success is its high digital adoption rate, with digital transactions forming a significant portion of monthly activity. This indicates a strong customer reliance on, and satisfaction with, their platforms. In addition to comprehensive banking services, Nordea Bank showcased innovation via the introduction of new mobile banking features that integrate seamlessly with everyday consumer experiences, propelling them to the forefront of digital banking in Finland.
Financial performance metrics underscore Nordea Bank’s dominance, with steady growth in digital service uptake contributing significantly to their overall revenue. The creation of a robust and secure IT infrastructure has also been a core focus, enabling them to achieve near-zero downtime, thereby ensuring reliability for their users’ critical financial operations.
Customer testimonials gathered by the bank reflect a high level of customer satisfaction with its digital interfaces, further validating its reputation as the best digital bank in Finland. The integration of customer feedback into ongoing service improvements underscores Nordea’s commitment to customer-centric innovations.
Nordea Bank has not only excelled in developing digital solutions but also in ensuring these evolve in alignment with their customers’ needs, thereby providing efficient, secure, and innovative digital banking services.
