Brynjólfur Bjarnason

Chairman's address

Arion Bank and its subsidiaries provide a highly diverse and comprehensive range of financial services. The Bank’s activities are inextricably linked with the lives and work of the Icelandic people and as a result the Bank shared the ups and downs and uncertainty felt through most, if not all, areas of society in 2020. Arion Bank took a resolute response to one of the fastest and deepest economic downturns in recent times and we offered our customers a raft of vital measures to help them deal with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Benedikt Gíslason

CEO's address

Arion Bank performed well in 2020 despite the challenging economic and social situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. When it was apparent that restrictions on mass gatherings and a sharp contraction in demand throughout the economy would impact the lives and work of our customers the Bank responded quickly and offered loan payment holidays. The Bank also provided special supplementary and business support loans which formed part of a raft of government measures designed to tackle the pandemic. New lending reached almost record levels, driven to some extent by the Central Bank of Iceland’s interest rate cuts.

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In a nutshell

Net earnings

12.5

ISK bn.

Operating income

50.8

ISK bn.

 

Return on equity

6.5%

Loans to customers

823

ISK bn.

Assets under management

1,131

ISK bn.

Insurance

62,000

Customers

Total assets

1,173

ISK bn.

Equity

198

ISK bn.

CAD ratio

27%

 

 

Society and environment

Arion Bank’s sustainability policy bears the title Together we make good things happen and indicates that the Bank intends to act as a role model by promoting responsible and profitable business practices, which take into account the environment, the economy and the society in which we live and work.

More

We offer smart solutions

86,200

active app users

26,000,000

app logins

73%

of sales transactions
through digital channels

99,000

automatic loan decisions

95%

of credit assessments
performed digitally

9,100,000

visits to arionbanki.is

99%

of 42 million interactions with
clients through digital channels

5.700.000

online banking logins

46%

increase in mobile payments

News in 2020

12.02.2020

Arion Bank’s financial results for Q4 2019 and for the year 2019

Arion Bank reported negative net earnings of ISK 2,775 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 as impairment of assets and operational difficulties at subsidiaries held for sale negatively affected the Bank's results.

26.02.2020

Icelandic Competition Authority approves Nordic Visitor’s acquisition of Terra Nova Sól

Nordic Visitor hf. reached an agreement to acquire the tour operator Terra Nova Sól hf. on 19 December 2019. Terra Nova Sól was part of TravelCo, which was established following the collapse of Primera Air, and it was acquired Arion Bank in June 2019.

16.03.2020

Use contactless payment methods if possible

Various precautionary measures have been taken to hinder the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19.

16.03.2020

Temporary closure of two branches of Arion Bank in Reykjavík area – branches at Bíldshöfði, Smárinn and digital branch at Hagatorg remain open

As a precaution, only three of the Bank‘s five branches in the Reykjavík area will remain open at any one time.

25.03.2020

Temporary closure of branches

The welfare of our customers and employees is of the greatest importance to us. Due to Covid-19 we will be closing our branches to visitors from tomorrow, 26 March, unless people already have appointments and only then if it is a matter of urgency.

10.05.2020

Opening hours of Arion Bank branches from 12 May onwards

The opening hours of Arion Bank branches from 12 May onwards are as follows.

13.05.2020

Registration for extended AGM of Arion Bank closes at 4:00 p.m. (GMT) today, 13 May 2020

A notice announcing the extended AGM was published on 17 April, and shareholders who wish to participate in the meeting need to submit their requests to access the meeting by 4:00 p.m. (GMT) today, 13 May 2020.

16.06.2020

Working from home becomes part of the new norm

​The flexibility of Arion Bank's services has certainly been put to the test in the last couple of months. At the height of the pandemic approximately 80% of Arion Bank employees were working from home, branches had restricted opening hours and customers of all ages were doing more of their banking digitally than ever before.

17.07.2020

Arion Bank intends to refer FME´s decision to the courts

The Financial Supervisory Authority of the Central Bank of Iceland (FME) has decided to impose an administrative fine on Arion Bank of ISK 87.7 million due to the Bank´s breach of obligation to disclose insider information in a timely manner. Arion Bank intends to refer FME´s decision to the courts and demand an invalidation.

28.08.2020

Arion Bank is a model company in good governance

Arion Bank and its subsidiaries Stefnir and Valitor were among 17 companies to be recognized on Friday for good corporate governance and named "model companies in good governance”.

04.10.2020

Temporary closure of branches

The welfare of our customers and employees is of the greatest importance to us. Due to COVID-19 we will be closing our branches to visitors from tomorrow, 5 October, unless people already have appointments and only then if it is a matter of urgency.

28.10.2020

Arion Bank’s financial Q3 2020 financial results

Arion Bank reported net earnings of ISK 4,961 million from continuing operations in the third quarter and ISK 8,637 million from continuing operations during the first nine months of the year.

27.11.2020

Frumtak sells 11% of its stake in Controlant for close to $14 million

Frumtak, a venture capital and private equity fund in Iceland, with LPs who include The Business Venture Fund, several pension funds and banks, has sold 11.33% of its ownership in Controlant, an Icelandic technology company that develops real-time digital supply chain visibility solutions for highly-regulated industries, including pharmaceuticals and life sciences.

14.01.2020

New environment and climate policy at Arion Bank

Arion Bank has adopted a new environment and climate policy. The policy notes that banks have a key role to play in financing progress and that Arion Bank wishes to be a force for the good.

19.02.2020

Reports published by Arion Bank for 2019

Arion Bank has published its Annual and Sustainability Report and Pillar 3 Risk Disclosures for 2019. The reports are in digital format and are available on the Bank’s website.

13.03.2020

Arion Bank offering mortgage relief to retail customers due to Covid-19

Arion Bank is accommodating retail customers who are likely to experience difficulties in making mortgage repayments due to Covid-19.

16.03.2020

Use digital banking services

Out of concerns for safety in the current circumstances we encourage our customers to use the Bank’s digital channels such as the app and online banking.

17.03.2020

The 2020 Annual General Meeting of Arion Bank

The 2020 Annual General Meeting of Arion Bank was held today, Tuesday 17 March, at the Bank's headquarters in Borgartún, Reykjavík.

06.05.2020

Arion Bank’s financial results for Q1 2020

Covid-19 had a substantial effect on the Icelandic economy and Arion Bank during the last month of the first quarter of 2020.

11.05.2020

Arion Bank opens a Corporate Business Hub at Borgartún 18

All general corporate services at Arion Bank in the Reykjavík area will be brought together in a single location with the aim of enhancing services to our corporate customers.

25.05.2020

Úlfar Freyr Stefánsson appointed Chief Risk Officer of Arion Bank - Gísli S. Óttarsson leaves the Bank

Úlfar Freyr Stefánsson has been appointed Chief Risk Officer of Arion Bank. Úlfar is taking over from Gísli S. Óttarsson who will be leaving the Bank after having been Chief Risk Officer and a member of the Bank’s executive committee since 2009.

23.06.2020

Arion Bank Green Deposits

Customers of Arion Bank can now invest their savings in a sustainable bank account called Green Deposits. It represents a completely new type of account in Iceland. All our customers, from retail to corporate, can deposit money into an account which will only be used to fund green projects.

29.07.2020

Arion Bank's financial results for Q2 2020

Arion Bank reported net earnings of ISK 4,958 million from continuing operations in the second quarter and ISK 3,676 million from continuing operations during the first six months of the year.

28.09.2020

Arion Bank, Stefnir and Vörður sign declaration of intent on investment for a sustainable recovery

Arion Bank, its subsidiaries Stefnir and Vörður and a number of other companies in the financial sector have today signed a declaration of intent on investment for a sustainable recovery.

13.10.2020

Arion Bank achieves outstanding results in Reitun’s ESG rating

Arion Bank has achieved outstanding results in Reitun’s ESG rating, scoring 86 points out of a possible 100 and placing it in category A3.

06.11.2020

Arion Bank holds top spot in equities and bond trading

Arion Bank had the highest market share on Nasdaq Iceland in October, both in equities and bonds. according to Nasdaq Iceland.

14.01.2020

New environment and climate policy at Arion Bank

Arion Bank has adopted a new environment and climate policy. The policy notes that banks have a key role to play in financing progress and that Arion Bank wishes to be a force for the good.

19.02.2020

Reports published by Arion Bank for 2019

Arion Bank has published its Annual and Sustainability Report and Pillar 3 Risk Disclosures for 2019. The reports are in digital format and are available on the Bank’s website.

13.03.2020

Arion Bank offering mortgage relief to retail customers due to Covid-19

Arion Bank is accommodating retail customers who are likely to experience difficulties in making mortgage repayments due to Covid-19.

16.03.2020

Use digital banking services

Out of concerns for safety in the current circumstances we encourage our customers to use the Bank’s digital channels such as the app and online banking.

17.03.2020

The 2020 Annual General Meeting of Arion Bank

The 2020 Annual General Meeting of Arion Bank was held today, Tuesday 17 March, at the Bank's headquarters in Borgartún, Reykjavík.

06.05.2020

Arion Bank’s financial results for Q1 2020

Covid-19 had a substantial effect on the Icelandic economy and Arion Bank during the last month of the first quarter of 2020.

11.05.2020

Arion Bank opens a Corporate Business Hub at Borgartún 18

All general corporate services at Arion Bank in the Reykjavík area will be brought together in a single location with the aim of enhancing services to our corporate customers.

25.05.2020

Úlfar Freyr Stefánsson appointed Chief Risk Officer of Arion Bank - Gísli S. Óttarsson leaves the Bank

Úlfar Freyr Stefánsson has been appointed Chief Risk Officer of Arion Bank. Úlfar is taking over from Gísli S. Óttarsson who will be leaving the Bank after having been Chief Risk Officer and a member of the Bank’s executive committee since 2009.

23.06.2020

Arion Bank Green Deposits

Customers of Arion Bank can now invest their savings in a sustainable bank account called Green Deposits. It represents a completely new type of account in Iceland. All our customers, from retail to corporate, can deposit money into an account which will only be used to fund green projects.

29.07.2020

Arion Bank's financial results for Q2 2020

Arion Bank reported net earnings of ISK 4,958 million from continuing operations in the second quarter and ISK 3,676 million from continuing operations during the first six months of the year.

28.09.2020

Arion Bank, Stefnir and Vörður sign declaration of intent on investment for a sustainable recovery

Arion Bank, its subsidiaries Stefnir and Vörður and a number of other companies in the financial sector have today signed a declaration of intent on investment for a sustainable recovery.

13.10.2020

Arion Bank achieves outstanding results in Reitun’s ESG rating

Arion Bank has achieved outstanding results in Reitun’s ESG rating, scoring 86 points out of a possible 100 and placing it in category A3.

06.11.2020

Arion Bank holds top spot in equities and bond trading

Arion Bank had the highest market share on Nasdaq Iceland in October, both in equities and bonds. according to Nasdaq Iceland.