Risk management and auditors

Handelsbanken risk management is based on three lines of defence for management, follow-up and internal control of the Bank's risks. 

Business operations and supporting units

The business operations and the units that support the business operations constitute the first line of defence, with responsibility for identifying, managing and restricting the risks facing the business in accordance with external and internal rules.

Risk Control and Compliance

The Handelsbanken Risk Control and Handelsbanken Compliance control functions constitute the second line of defence and shall monitor and oversee the Group's risks, the business operations' risk management activities, and compliance with applicable regulations.

Both functions are independent and organisationally separated from the activities they monitor and control. 

Internal Audit

The third line of defence is the Board's controlling body, Handelsbanken Internal Audit that is tasked with performing an independent, impartial audit of the operations and financial reporting of the Group. The review encompasses the assessment, evaluation and verification of the Bank's risk management, internal control and corporate governance processes.

Handelsbanken's internal control and risk management is described in detail in the bank's corporate governance reports.

The shareholders appoint external auditors at the Annual General Meeting. 

The auditors carry out an audit and submit an auditor's report covering matters such as the Annual Report, including this Corporate Governance Report, and the administration of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the auditors report orally and in writing to the Board's Audit committee concerning how their audit was conducted together with its conclusions. The auditors also submit a summary report of their audit to the Board as a whole.

The 2026 Annual General Meeting resolved to re-elect Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB and Deloitte AB as auditors for the period until the end of the Annual General Meeting to be held in 2027. The two auditors in charge are authorised public accountants Magnus Svensson Henryson (Öhrlings PricewaterhouseCoopers AB) and Malin Lüning (Deloitte AB).

When procuring consulting services from the companies which are responsible for auditing the Bank, the policy for the use of external auditors states that a special review must be made.