- Business
- SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA operates as one of Norway's largest regional savings banks, providing a comprehensive range of financial services to retail, corporate, small and medium-sized enterprise, agricultural, and public sector customers; core offerings include loans, deposits, savings products, payment solutions, insurance, pension savings, asset management, mutual funds, real estate brokerage, accounting services, international cash management, foreign exchange, interest-rate instruments, and home mortgage purchases. The bank, whose roots trace back to 1839 with the establishment of its oldest predecessor institutions and formal incorporation in 1976 through the merger of 22 local savings banks, maintains headquarters in Stavanger, Norway, and conducts operations across Vestland, Rogaland, Agder, Telemark, Vestfold, Buskerud, and the Oslo area through approximately 53 branches. As part of the SpareBank 1 alliance, it leverages shared resources for product development, IT platforms, and nationwide distribution while focusing on sectors such as real estate, offshore oil and gas, industry, power, water supply, and sustainable finance initiatives. In a transformative development completed on October 1, 2024, SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA merged with SpareBank 1 Sørøst-Norge AS in a share-for-share transaction involving the issuance of 111,187,338 new shares at NOK 130.60 each, forming Norway's largest savings bank by assets under the new name SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge ASA with ticker SB1NO.OL and pro forma total share capital of NOK 9,386,407,675; the merger, approved by shareholders, regulators including the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority and Ministry of Finance, and cleared by competition authorities, enhances scale, cost efficiencies, market leadership, and ROE targets lifted to 14% while integrating subsidiaries like EiendomsMegler 1 Sør-Norge for real estate and SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge Forretningspartner for accounting. Leadership transitioned in September 2024 with Inge Reinertsen appointed CEO following Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer's departure, and Roar Snippen as acting CFO, supporting strategic goals of a cost/income ratio below 40%, CET1 ratio above 17.6%, and dividend payouts around 50% of annual profit.