BEST BANK
Nordea
BEST DEBT HOUSE
Deutsche Bank
BEST EQUITY HOUSE
ABN Amro / ABN Amro Rothschild
BEST M&A HOUSE
Citigroup
BEST AT CASH MANAGEMENT
SEB
BEST AT RISK MANAGEMENT
Deutsche Bank
BEST AT INVESTOR SERVICES
SEB
BEST SMALLER BANK, BALTICS
Suprema Securities
![nordic.jpg](https://assets.euromoneydigital.com/dims4/default/fef7354/2147483647/strip/true/crop/250x181+0+0/resize/800x579!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Feuromoney-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe7%2F0f%2Ff8745f4f9ff047cec44d70bc2b18%2Fnordic.jpg)
The impressive performance of Nordea during 2004 is primarily attributable to its focus on cost control. During the year, total income increased by just 1% – although there was an 8% pick-up in the fourth quarter – but profit increased by 28% and earnings per share hit an all-time high of €0.69 compared with €0.51 in 2003. The bank has also been focused on creating value for its shareholders in other ways and in October 2004 completed a buyback of about 5% of its outstanding shares.
Figures from the first quarter of this year suggest that all units of the bank are working well. Mortgage lending to personal customers increased 15% year on year, lending to small and medium-size corporates rose 14%, assets under management went up 11% to €36 billion and written premiums in life insurance increased by 23%.