Best Bank Stocks To Own For 2015

Best Bank Stocks To Own For 2015: Swedbank AB (SWDBY.PK)

Swedbank AB is the parent company of Swedbank. Swedbank consists of subsidiaries, associates and a joint venture. The Company operates in six business areas: Swedish Banking, Baltic Banking, International Banking, Swedbank Markets, Asset Management and Ektornet. On January 20, 2009, Swedbank Robur AB acquired Banco Fonder AB from Alfred Berg. In February 2010, the Company acquired a 15% equity stake in OAO Swedbank from European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). During the year ended December 31, 2009, Swedbank sold four branches to Sparbanken Nord, three branches to Sparbanken Dalsland, two branches to Sparbanken Rekarne, one branch to Tidaholms Sparbank and one branch to Sparbanken 1826.

Swedish Banking

Swedish Banking is engaged in offering a range of financial products and services to private customers, corporates, organisations and municipalities through close to 400 branches, as well as the telephone bank and Internet bank in S weden. Swedbank's products are also sold through the cooperating savings banks, which account for another 275 branches. The subsidiary in Luxembourg, with a representative office in Spain is included in the business area as well.

Baltic Banking

Baltic Banking offers a range of financial products and services to private and corporate customers in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It offers its services through 226 branches, as well as the telephone bank and Internet bank.

International Banking

International Banking consists of operations outside Swedbank's home markets, primarily the banking operations in Ukraine and Russia. In addition to Ukraine and Russia, the business area includes the branches in Denmark, Norway, the United States and China, as well as the representative office in Japan. The branch network in Ukraine, consists of! 156 branches, serves both private and corporate customers. The Nordic branches offer corp orate customers, mainly Swedish customers with operations in! the Nordic markets, a range of financial products and services.

Swedbank Markets

Swedbank Markets has operations in equity, fixed income and currency trading, corporate finance, as well as project, export and acquisition financing. In addition to its operations in Swedbank's home markets, the business area includes the subsidiaries First Securities ASA in Norway and Swedbank First Securities LLC in New York.

Asset Management

Asset Management, which consists of the subsidiary Swedbank Robur Group, offers services in fund management, institutional and discretionary asset management in all of Swedbank's home markets. Its customers include private customers, as well as institutions, foundations, municipalities, county councils and other investors. Its products are sold and distributed primarily by Swedish Banking and Baltic Banking and the savings banks in Sweden.

Ektornet

Ektornet is an independe nt subsidiary of Swedbank AB. It focuses on managing the Company's repossessed assets and developing them over time. Most of the collateral consists of real estate, the part of which will be in the Baltic countries, though also in the Nordic region and the United States.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By David Hunkar]

  Current Dividend Yield: 5.16%
  Sector: Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
  Country: France

  Company: Swedbank AB (SWDBY.PK)

  Current Dividend Yield: 6.50%
  Sector: Banking
  Country: Sweden

source from Top Stocks For 2015:http://www.topstocksblog.com/best-bank-stocks-to-own-for-2015-3.html