Meaningful partnerships do not emerge overnight. It's a journey where every conversation and every choice strengthens trust and provides a shared direction. For Christer Boström, banker Johan Broman is a partner and advisor who seamlessly integrates wealth management, banking and insurance solutions into one integrated service.

Espoo-based Christer Boström is a second-generation customer at Aktia whose journey with the bank began back in the 1970s. Boström was impressed by the motto “the customer comes first”, applied by Frey Karlsson, then President of the savings bank in Siuntio. Boström still anticipates the same level of commitment today. 

“I also received excellent service at the Tikkurila branch, which in the 1990s advised entrepreneurs on foreign trade financing and managed the paperwork of housing sales and investment properties,” he commends. 

The banker serves as a link to all services

Boström is currently a Private Banking customer at Aktia. Five years ago, Johan Broman was appointed as his banker.

”Our way of thinking aligned immediately, and, of course, sharing a common language also played a significant role. What matters most, however, is the journey we take together – as a Private Banking customer, the service I receive goes above and beyond.”

My own banker serves as a link to other specialists. The most important thing for Boström is not having to be passed from one point of contact to another. His loan arrangements and legal documents are also handled through Aktia.

“Our motto is to ‘keep the paperwork in order’. Having a will and continuing power of attorney are important regardless of age. I have received help with those as well.” 

The results speak for themselves

Boström makes use of asset management's portfolio solutions and favours insurance wrappers. He actively follows the market and also makes some investment decisions himself. Conversations with the banker set the framework for Boström’s decisions, and when the market fluctuates, his banker provides reassurance.

Boström describes himself as a conservative investor.

”We have had a steady journey, and everything has developed at the expected pace. I am happy with the result we have achieved over these years,” says Boström.

He has no major goals at the moment.

”We will continue as before when it comes to banking. As a pensioner, I focus on my hobbies: travelling to Italy, learning Italian and producing music in my own studio.”  

The deciding factor is a genuine interest in the customer

The work of a private banker combines banking services, goal-oriented wealth management and insurance solutions. When these are aligned with the customer's needs, the whole is more than the sum of its parts.

”We build a strategy that not only optimises returns but also considers the customer's risk profile, life situation and long-term goals,” Broman emphasises.

He likens himself to a conductor. The orchestra typically includes an asset manager, a lawyer, a financial specialist, tax experts from the Wealth Planning team, and the Back Office team.

“The strengths in Aktia’s model include an overall vision, a close customer relationship, easy access to specialists, and a large wealth management team. All this expertise can be found under the same roof.”

Broman describes his cooperation with Boström as an advanced partnership. He refers to himself as a trusted advisor.

“Everything is built on trust: I stay close, respond, listen, and keep everything on track. It is the foundation for our cooperation. The customer comes first."

Johan Broman and Christer Boström

In 2026, Aktia turns 200 years old. Our journey began in Helsinki on 8 April 1826, when the fisherman's daughter Sophia Albertina Schelin opened the savings bank's first ever account and deposited 16 schillings. It was a small but significant step that laid the foundation for a banking business with a legacy that still lives on today. 

Over the course of two centuries, Aktia has evolved from a local savings bank into a modern and growing financial Group, where wealth management and life insurance are central parts of the offering. Today, we help private individuals, families and companies throughout Finland to develop and secure their finances with a long-term perspective across generations. 

The anniversary year 2026 marks both the start of Aktia's next 200 years and a clear step on our strategic growth journey. At the same time, we are celebrating another important milestone: 35 years have passed since eight savings banks were united under the name Aktia and formed the foundation of today's Group. Aktia was listed on Nasdaq OMX Helsinki in 2009. 

During the anniversary year, Aktia will meet customers and partners in various contexts. Our celebration is characterised by our ambition to look to the future and, together with our shareholders, customers and partners, continue to create wealth and wellbeing from one generation to the next. 

Watch the anniversary short film here.

Aktia has published its sustainability strategy for 2026–2029. The strategy focuses on people: customers and own employees.  

The main themes and objectives of the sustainability strategy for 2026–2029 are as follows: 

- People: Our customer and employee experience is one of the best in the sector; 

- Good governance: Transparent and stable governance and strong business ethics;  

- Environment: We support the transition towards a low-carbon future and take care of biodiversity and ecosystems.

“Sustainability is a way of working for us. Our new sustainability strategy focuses on people, as the well-being of our customers and employees is a prerequisite for sustainable growth. We want to be involved in building a stable society in which individuals and companies can grow and thrive,” says Niina Arkko, Sustainability Director at Aktia. 

The new sustainability strategy builds on the previous sustainability programme and is closely linked to the AktiaExperience in the Aktia Group strategy. Employee well-being and responsible products enable excellent customer experience, which supports the company's growth objectives.  

Although people are at the heart of the strategy, other sustainability themes are also important. Aktia commits to setting science-based climate targets (SBTi) for its activities and to updating its medium-term climate targets during 2026. The aim is also to develop a systematic approach to biodiversity in lending and investment activities. In addition, the company aims to increase the positive net impact of investment funds.