Swedbank Group

I'm James.

I'm your host for today's podcast and featuring today's guests, Ishish Chakkar, Global Head of Technology Platforms at Danske Bank, Pietra Klein, Chief Security Officer at Swedbank and Gunnar Slot, Chief Information Security Officer at Telia Finance.

We're here to discuss strategy to execution, technology transformation in financial services.

Just to extend on the introduction that I've done already for you, Ashish, do you just want to delve in a little bit deeper about your role, who you are, and yeah, kind of go from there, really.

Other than a name and a title and where you work, could you just introduce yourself in a little bit greater depth for me?

Yeah, sure.

So my role is to lead, coordinate and follow up security in the Swedbank group.

Also heading the group Security Cyber Defense.

Estonia is in Schengen, so short visits are covered by the 90-18 day rule, but longer stays require a residence permit applied for through the police and border guard board.

Opening a bank account needs an Estonian ID card or residence permit, proof of address, and an in-person visit to a branch like Swedbank or SEB.

These are the logistics of existence, the paperwork that allows you to live freely.

I picked up my phone and checked the news, seeing reports about the Tallinn-Parnu Ikla Highway Widening Project, which is adding 30 to 45 minutes to the drive from the capital.

Later, I needed to handle some practical business, because living here requires a different set of habits than visiting.

I walked to the Swedbank branch near the concert hall to check on my account status, though I do most of my daily spending with contactless cards now.

Opening an account here is straightforward if you have your residence permit and ID card, but it requires an in-person visit for the anti-money laundering checks, which can feel tedious if you are not prepared.

I use LHV for my main account, as it is generally the most expat-friendly, but having options is wise.

This time of the year, banks usually are publishing their Baltic outlooks, and throughout September, we are planning to discuss some of them by inviting a lineup of economists into our virtual studio to talk about the state of the economy in Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

We are starting with Swedbank.

And as the first, uh, interview this season, I am very happy to invite back Greta Ilikyte from, uh, Swedbank Lit- uh, Lithuania.

Uh, hello, Greta.

Hi.

So they actually try to, to react and, and not allow expectations, inflation expectations to shoot up.

Uh, but at the same time, markets expect that there will be at least two more hikes of 25 basis points.

We, uh, we are not, uh, having the same opinion, at least, at, uh, Swedbank L- uh, at Swedbank.

Opening an account here requires patience, something I am learning to value.

I went to Swedbank near the concert hall, where the teller spoke slowly and clearly, asking for my residence permit and proof of address.

It is a strict process born of European anti-money laundering checks, but it is also a sign of how digital first Estonia is.

Once the card is issued, the world opens up.

The streets are darker now, the shops closed, the pedestrians fewer.

I stop at Swedbank to withdraw some cash.

needing euros for the final leg of my journey.

The bank is modern and efficient, the staff polite and professional.