Hansapank                     NEWS RELEASE                      03/01/2004



INCREASE OF SUBSIDIARY'S SHARE CAPITAL



The annual general meeting of shareholders of Hansabank’s Latvian

subsidiary Hansabanka resolved to increase the bank’s share capital by

LVL 36 million (EUR 54 million) through a closed share issue to

current shareholders. The capital increase is required to meet the

bank’s capital needs due to rapid risk asset growth. Following the

said capital increase Hansabanka’s share capital will amount to LVL 82

million (EUR 123 million).





Mart Tõevere

Head of Communications and IR

+372 6131 569