"Banking in the UK has become, for most of us, a soulless experience. Our financial needs are often at the mercy of the credit rating agencies rather than a human being who has the time to listen and the desire to help you. In my experience, I was receiving a much better service from my broadband provider than my bank! Something had to change but it was only when I started working for the Swedish energy company, Vattenfall, that the name Handelsbanken came to my attention.
"My Swedish colleagues spoke of an 'old-school' service, where you could pick up the phone and speak to a real person who actually knew your name, the names of your children and where you last went on holiday. And there was more - at Handelsbanken I was told that all decisions regarding loans, mortgages and so on, were made at branch level by your actual Bank Manager. This seemed too good to be true, but sure enough, just a few days after contacting my local Handelsbanken branch, I was sat round my kitchen table chatting to my Bank Manager. And yes, after just a short time with the bank, my Bank Manager got to know the names of my children because he met them, at our home, several times.
"I now don't have to think about banking anymore unless I am recommending Handelsbanken to my friends and colleagues. It truly is a premium service without the fanfare, sharp-suited salesmen and glossy insurance brochures. In fact, Handelsbanken don't even provide insurance products."
Dan Gumsley, Insurance Manager - Vattenfall
