Strong results in first half of 2004 

Operating  profit  up  15%  to  EUR 1,100m (EUR 959m in first half year

2003)

Net  profit  up  64% to EUR 1,082m (EUR 660m) including gain related to

the completed real estate divestment process

Total  income  maintained  at EUR 2,825m (EUR 2,837m), net interest and

commission income up

Total expenses down 5% to EUR 1,722m (EUR 1,819m)

Loan losses down 79% to EUR 39m (EUR 190m)

Earnings per share EUR 0.39 (EUR 0.23)

Return on equity (excl. goodwill) 23.1% (15.2%)

Solid underlying development in Q2 



Operating profit EUR 516m (EUR 584m in first quarter 2004)

Net profit up 59% to EUR 664m (EUR 418m)

Total  income maintained and costs down 3%, net interest and commission

income up

Trading  income  and investment earnings influenced by difficult market

conditions

Life insurance result further improved

Positive net loan losses

Growth in business volumes and increased focus

Continued growth in lending to households, up 15% year-on-year

Lending to small and medium-sized corporate customers up 1%

Deposits up 7%

Assets under Management increased by 21% to EUR 123bn

Number of netbank customers up 9% to more than 3.8 million

Number of netbank payments up 17% to 42.4 million per quarter

Pioneering new model for equity research



  "We deliver consistent progress as we continue in accordance with our

plan  to  improve  performance  and  increase  the  focus  on  our core

business.  We  have  maintained  our  total  income despite challenging

market  conditions,  and  both  net  interest and commission income are

increasing.  Costs  continue  down  and positive net loan losses in the

second  quarter  underline  the healthy shape of our credit portfolio",

says Lars G Nordström, President and Group CEO of Nordea.



For further information:

Arne Liljedahl, Group CFO/EVP +46 8 614 7996

Sigurd  Carlsen,  Head of Investor Relations +46 8 614 69 89 (or +46 70

204 9878)

Erik  Evrén, Chief Communication Officer, Sweden +46 8 614 8611 (or +46

70 946 5389)



Nordea  Bank  Finland  PLC  full  interim  report  for 6 months of 2004

available here: <a href='http://www.rfb.lv' target='_blank'>http://www.rfb.lv</a> /public/vertspapiri/42574.html