04.12.2025
At the Bank of the Year Awards gala in London last night, Financial Times’ international banking magazine The Banker named LHV the best bank in Estonia in 2025. This is the 7th time LHV has won the award.
LHV has grown together with its clients: our strong financial position, rapid market share growth, and increased client activity confirm that our strategic choices have been correct. ‘We have become one of the most important banks in Estonia in everyday banking, deposits, and corporate financing, relying on strong risk indicators and a sustainable business model,’ Kadri Kiisel, the Chairman of the Management Board at LHV Pank, says.
‘In the past year, we have taken several important steps that have helped clients become even more active in managing their finances. In investment services, we made a groundbreaking reduction in fees, which makes investing more accessible to everyone and supports the growth of financial literacy among young people,’ Kiisel explains. At the same time, modern AI solutions and cloud technologies have allowed LHV to develop more precise and efficient services than before. As one example, LHV uses machine learning solutions in credit decisions, which speed up processes and improve their accuracy, being among the first of their kind in Estonian banking.
In its development, LHV also addresses socially significant challenges. LHV directs increasing amounts of capital to support energy efficiency and green investments, whether it is the renovation of apartment buildings, sustainable solutions for companies or the acquisition of electric vehicles. In 2025, LHV financed class A and B energy homes 15% more than in 2024, reinforcing the bank’s role in developing an energy-efficient living environment. ‘Our goal is for Estonian households and businesses to be more energy-efficient and future-proof,’ Kiisel explains. These steps show that LHV can combine strong growth, technological innovation, and social impact and this is what has created a distinctive position in Estonian banking.
In recent years, LHV has strengthened its position in the Estonian banking market. In corporate financing, LHV has become the second-largest lender in Estonia by volume. This position reflects both a strong capital base and the trust companies place in our financing solutions. In everyday banking and deposits, LHV is the third-largest bank in Estonia, relying on stable growth in both client numbers and loan portfolios in the corporate and retail segments. ‘LHV’s role in supporting both corporate investment capacity and the financial security of Estonian families has increased year by year,’ Kiisel explains.
LHV Group is the largest domestic financial group and capital provider in Estonia. LHV Group’s key subsidiaries are LHV Pank, LHV Varahaldus, LHV Kindlustus, and LHV Bank Limited. The Group employs over 1,100 people. As at the end of October, LHV Pank’s banking services are being used by 486,000 clients, the pension funds managed by LHV have 107,000 active clients, and LHV Kindlustus protects a total of 229,000 clients. LHV Bank, a subsidiary of the Group, holds a banking licence in the UK and provides banking services to international financial technology companies, as well as loans to small and medium-sized enterprises and retail banking services.
All news