Hansapank                     NEWS RELEASE                      03/01/2004



CHANGES IN COUNCIL AND BOARD OF LATVIAN HANSABANKA



Irina Pigozne, CEO of Hanza Lizings, was appointed as a member of the

Board of the Latvian Hansabanka, on February 27. Irina Pigozne managed

Hansabanka’s corporate banking department during the years 2001-2003

and since October 2003 has been CEO of Hanza Lizings.

Mrs Pigozne does not own any Hansabank shares.



On February 27 Kristina Siimar, CFO and member of the Board of

Hansabank Group was elected as a member of the Council of Hansabanka.

She replaced Erkki Raasuke, vice-chairman of the Board of Hansabank

Group, who was recalled from the Council.





Mart Tõevere

Head of Communications and IR

+372 6131 569