Community engagement

This is how we support

At Nordea, community engagement is about creating positive change with the help of our employees.

Through well over 20 programmes and partnerships, we focus on building financial skills and fostering entrepreneurship, thus enabling our banking and financial expertise to have a positive impact on society.

In 2022 we restarted face-to-face volunteering activities although online and hybrid volunteering activities continued to be popular, allowing participants to join regardless of geographical area. In 2022 over 2,000 Nordea employees delivered 8,000 hours of volunteering.

In March we gave donations to UNICEF and the Red Cross to support their relief efforts in Ukraine and impacted countries. We waived all transaction fees for household and business customers’ donations to charities engaged in emergency response actions. In addition, during the year we organised employee collections of essential items to people in need and launched a new volunteering programme to support refugees. The volunteering programme is active in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Poland and Sweden. Over 650 Nordea employees volunteered during 2022.

Slush

This is an example of a partnership for entrepreneurs, in this we connect startups and scaleups with investees.

Slush is all about startups when 12.000 participants gather to slushy Helsinki in November. World’s leading startup and technology event, brings together founders and tech talent to meet with top-tier international investors, executives, and media. Slush is a non-profit event organized by a community of entrepreneurs, investors, and students. The idea is to create a global entrepreneurial movement that inspires the formation of new startups and global high-growth companies that want to have a positive impact on society. Around 20 Nordea volunteers will work at this event, setting up speed dates between investors and startups. 

Story: Finland one of the hottest startup hubs in Europe

Matteutmaningen

This is an example of how we reach out via partnerships to improve financial skills for people.

In a recent study we conducted in Sweden last spring, we discovered that while younger children enjoy mathematics, the level of enjoyment unfortunately tends to decline among older students. To encourage a new spirit of exploration and curiosity, we started Matteutmaningen, a nationwide contest for children and their families with a range of prizes that puts the fun back into Maths. This we do together with the homework app Albert, Mattecentrum, a non-profit organisation that helps children and young adults and the song-contest Melodifestivalen.

We also run programmes for financial skills in both Sweden and Finland, as well digital coaching for elderly.

Story: How we helped customers improve their digital banking skills

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(only in Swedish)

Investor Speed Dating

This is an example of an initiative from us that helps startups and scaleups to increase their possibilities to grow. 

Nordea Investor Speed Dating is a virtual matchmaking event for high-growth startups and scaleups looking for the right investors. We work with over 200 local and global investment funds. Meetings are pre-booked and take place through one-to-one discussions between companies and investors. Our goal is to make this event the most efficient two and a half hours of the year – for both parties.

Story: Matchmaking + capital = accelerating a sustainable growth journey

The refugee programme

The refugee programme was established in 2022 with main focus on supporting refugees, but also immigrants, in settling in a new society. The programme relies on employee volunteering and collaboration with non-profit organisations. Nordea volunteers have been participating in a variety of activities, helping the newcomers to bring stability to their lives and, for example, learn the skills needed to find employment. The objective of the programme is to enable refugees to re-build financial security and improve their financial well-being in the future.

Read about how we strengthen language skills for refugees
 

Explore initiatives country by country

Denmark

In Denmark, one of our partnerships is with Thinkers50 Europe, an event where we invite customers. We get topclass content that we can share with our customers and we also invite startups to a Nordea event where we share some of the unique findings from the event. 

Go to local pages

Finland

In Finland, we take part in a project called Me & MyCity. Coordinated by the Economic Information Office (TAT), Me & MyCity provides a learning environment for sixth and ninth-grade students where they can learn about society, working life and entrepreneurship

Go to local pages

Sweden

In Sweden, we've a business partnership with Unga Aktiesparare. This organisation teaches young people about the stock market, investments, funds and the financial industry at large. As a result, they gain tools and knowledge for managing their personal finances.

Go to local pages
 

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