AS SAMPO PANK                NEWS RELEASE                     17.12.2004



A CHANGE IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OF AS SAMPO PANK



On 16 December the Supervisory Board of AS Sampo Pank satisfied the resignation

application submitted by Tauno Vanaselja, Member of the Management Board of AS

Sampo Pank. Tauno Vanaselja's powers as a Member of the Management Board were

deemed to be terminated as at  16.12.2004. Tauno Vanaselja will continue working

as Director of the Corporate Services Division of AS Sampo Pank until 31 January

2005.



The Management Board of AS Sampo Pank will continue working with the present

three members: Härmo Värk, Chairman of the Management Board, Ivar Pae, Chief

Financial Officer and Margus Zhuravljov, Director of the Personal and Retail

Banking Division.



The Supervisory Board of AS Sampo Pank express their gratitude to Tauno Vanaselja

for his contribution to Sampo Pank's development. Tauno Vanaselja has been

working in the banking sector for 12 years, of which the recent six years in his

present position.



Anneli Rõuk

Communication Manager

tel +372 630 2103