Our history

40 years in Finland.

SEB has been present in Finland since 1984 and is today a leading corporate bank with a strong local presence and broad expertise for companies and institutions.

SEB opened a representative office in Helsinki in 1984 with four employees. Ten years later, the office became a branch, and the number of customers and staff increased steadily. Today, SEB in Finland is a branch of the parent company in Stockholm, and the staff has grown to around 320 people.

All Finnish units operate from the office on Eteläesplanadi in central Helsinki.

Johan Torgeby, SEB’s CEO

SEB has been in Finland for 40 years. Today, we are a leading corporate bank, serving a wide range of Finnish large companies, institutions, and municipalities. We also focus on asset management and card services.

Article (Swe): En partner i Finlands näringsliv i 40 år

Milestones in our history

1856

André Oscar Wallenberg founds Stockholms Enskilda Bank.

Wallenberg’s business idea was to support entrepreneurs in establishing companies and commercialising their innovations. This required capital, and Stockholms Enskilda Bank was created to bring together capital, innovation and entrepreneurship.

1864

The Bank of Finland and SEB begin correspondence.

1895

SEB finances railway construction in Finland.

SEB arranges and co-finances an international loan for the Finnish state. The capital is needed for railway projects in Turku and Jyväskylä.

1911

Tom Sahlberg establishes a brokerage firm in Helsinki.

A few years later, Sahlberg’s business partner Ane Gyllenberg acquires the firm, and in 1936 he renames it Bankirfirman Ane Gyllenberg Aktiebolag.

1984

SEB opens a representative office in Helsinki.

The representative office on Norra esplanaden initially employs four people.

1994

The business grows and the representative office becomes a branch.

SEB’s operations in Finland expand, and the representative office’s legal status is changed to a branch. The number of employees increases as well, and by autumn 1994, the Helsinki office has 25 employees.

1997

SEB acquires the asset management company Gyllenberg.

Gyllenberg, which over the years has grown into one of Finland’s largest asset managers, is acquired by SEB. Although SEB becomes the sole owner, the name is retained and operations continue as before. Only ten years later is the name changed, and the company operates for a period under the double name SEB Gyllenberg.

2007

All Finnish SEB units under one roof.

Due to SEB’s growth phase, the Finnish units had been spread across different locations. In 2007, all units – Merchant Banking, Enskilda, Cards and SEB Gyllenberg – move into a shared office at Unioninkatu 30–32.

2011

Gyllenberg becomes part of history.

The Gyllenberg name disappears. The company name and its investment funds are renamed solely SEB.

SEB supports Finnish junior tennis.

SEB and the Finnish Tennis Association enter into a three-year cooperation agreement to support Finnish junior tennis. During this period, SEB serves as the main sponsor, and the SEB Junior Grand Prix tournament series is organised.

2017

SEB moves to Eteläesplanadi.

At Easter 2017, SEB moves into its new office at Eteläesplanadi 18.

2019

Diners Club ceases operations in the Nordic countries.

The last day for using the Diners Club credit card in Finland is 31 May 2019.

2025

SEB celebrates 40 years in Finland.

During the anniversary year, we highlight our long‑standing relationships with companies, institutions and private individuals. We are grateful and proud of the trust our customers have placed in us every day for 40 years. Here’s to us — and to the next forty years!

A green colour with a long history

Some things were better in the past. Our green colour, for example.

Between 1972 and 1989, we used a dark green shade that traces back to the early 14th century. It originated with the medieval predecessors of today’s banks, whose tables were draped in a particular dark green cloth – a colour that, appropriately enough, symbolises credibility and security. A more fitting colour for a bank was hard to find. So we made it ours and wore it with pride for nearly 30 years.

Now we’re wearing it again – and it feels like coming home.

Advice and capital since 1856

We have a long tradition of supporting people and companies and helping drive development. Engagement and curiosity about the future have guided us ever since we welcomed our first customer in 1856. On sebgroup.com we tell you more.