Community engagement
At Nordea, community engagement is about creating positive change in collaboration with non-profit organisations and with the help of our employees.
In our three community engagement programmes we focus on building financial skills, fostering entrepreneurship and supporting refugees to settle in a new country. These programmes are activated in our own initiatives and also in collaboration with a wide variety of partnerships and sponsorships.
All Nordea employees are invited to volunteer 16 hours each year through Nordea’s community engagement programmes. In 2023 we resumed face-to-face volunteering activities, although online and hybrid volunteering activities continue to be popular as participants are able to join regardless of geographical area.
In 2023 more than 1,600 Nordea
Interested in a partnership?
We're looking for partners who share our view that financial skills and entrepreneurship can play a key role in creating a better society.
Read moreSlush
This is an example of a partnership for entrepreneurs, in this we connect startups and scaleups with investees.
Slush is all about startups when 12.000 participants gather to slushy Helsinki in November. World’s leading startup and technology event, brings together founders and tech talent to meet with top-tier international investors, executives, and media. Slush is a non-profit event organized by a community of entrepreneurs, investors, and students. The idea is to create a global entrepreneurial movement that inspires the formation of new startups and global high-growth companies that want to have a positive impact on society. Around 20 Nordea volunteers will work at this event, setting up speed dates between investors and startups.
Story: Finland one of the hottest startup hubs in Europe
Matteutmaningen
This is an example of how we reach out via partnerships to improve financial skills for people.
In a recent study we conducted in Sweden last spring, we discovered that while younger children enjoy mathematics, the level of enjoyment unfortunately tends to decline among older students. To encourage a new spirit of exploration and curiosity, we started Matteutmaningen, a nationwide contest for children and their families with a range of prizes that puts the fun back into Maths. This we do together with the homework app Albert, Mattecentrum, a non-profit organisation that helps children and young adults and the song-contest Melodifestivalen.
We also run programmes for financial skills in both Sweden and Finland, as well digital coaching for elderly.
Story: How we helped customers improve their digital banking skillsInvestor Speed Dating
This is an example of an initiative from us that helps startups and scaleups to increase their possibilities to grow.
Nordea Investor Speed Dating is a virtual matchmaking event for high-growth startups and scaleups looking for the right investors. We work with over 200 local and global investment funds. Meetings are pre-booked and take place through one-to-one discussions between companies and investors. Our goal is to make this event the most efficient two and a half hours of the year – for both parties.
Story: Matchmaking + capital = accelerating a sustainable growth journey
The refugee programme
The refugee programme was established in 2022 with main focus on supporting refugees, but also immigrants, in settling in a new society. The programme relies on employee volunteering and collaboration with non-profit organisations. Nordea volunteers have been participating in a variety of activities, helping the newcomers to bring stability to their lives and, for example, learn the skills needed to find employment. The objective of the programme is to enable refugees to re-build financial security and improve their financial well-being in the future.
Read about how we strengthen language skills for refugees
Explore initiatives country by country
Denmark
In Denmark we’re partnering with Red Cross in several ways: We support their nationwide yearly collection by keeping our branches open to count and deposit the donations. We’re also a part of the initiative Parathjælper where employees can volunteer in their local areas. Furthermore, we participate in Sprogland, a programme where we help refugees practice their Danish skills.
Estonia
In Estonia we’re arranging financial fraud prevention workshops in Russian for Ukrainian refugees in cooperation with Estonian Refugee Council. We also participate in different humanitarian aid projects together with Estonian Red Cross and Estonian Food Bank. Latest addition to our volunteering activities is a programme where our employees are educating children from kindergarden and up to high school in financial skills.
Finland
In Finland, 180,000 children and young people participate in our financial skills activities every year, and 80% of growth companies in Finland receive help from Nordea. We support financial skills already from the elementary school level and mentor companies at different stages – from young people launching start-ups to companies active on a global scale. We increase know-how through training, mentoring programmes, games and internships.
Norway
In Norway we’re running Økonomipeil, a teaching programme in personal finance for secondary and upper secondary schools. It's carried out all year round throughout the country and takes place both at Nordea's premises and in schools. We’ve also partnered with Ungt Entreprenørskap, a programme where students get to start their own business and get our support and guidance.
Poland
In Poland we’re are cooperating with different NGO’s in supporting digitally and financially excluded children and are actively participating in entrepreneurship programmes like BraveCamp. In addition we’re collaborating with Share the Care Foundation in building parental equality and Mamo Pracuj in supporting women in returning to the labour market after maternity, parental and childcare leaves.
Sweden
In Sweden, we're running several activities together with Mattecentrum. Ekonomipejl is our programme for young people about private economy that has been been running since 2008 and new activities are Matteutmaningen and the learning platform www.ekonomikoll.se. We also have a partnership with Unga Aktiesparare which teaches young people about the stock market, investments, funds and the financial industry at large.