Pohjola Pankki Oyj - Company Announcement

Pohjola's Credit Ratings Confirmed

Pohjola Bank plc	Company Release                                               
Release category: Stock Exchange Release                                     
16 December 2008 at 10.00 am Finnish time (GMT+2)                            

Pohjola's Credit Ratings Confirmed                                              

Moody's and standard & Poor's have reviewed Pohjola Bank plc's credit rating,   
and decided to retain the previous ratings. 

Moody's rating for Pohjola Bank's long-term funding is Aa1 and that of Standard & Poor's AA-, both considering the future outlook stable.                       

Moody's upgraded the credit rating of Pohjola Insurance Ltd, its subsidiary    
engaged in non-life insurance operations, from A2 to A1.  According to Moody's, 
the change reflects the successful integration of Pohjola Insurance and Pohjola 
Bank.                                                                           



Pohjola Bank plc                                                                
Markku Koponen                                                                  
Senior Vice President                                                           

For more information, please contact: Ilkka Salonen, CFO, tel. +358 (0)10 252   
3146                                                                            

Distribution                                                                    
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki                                                             
London Stock Exchange                                                           
SWX Swiss Exchange                                                              
Major media                                                                     
op.fi and pohjola.fi