Danske Bank

In 1987, both banks were acquired by National Australia Bank (along with Midland Bank's Scottish subsidiary, Clydesdale Bank). In 1988 the Republic of Ireland operation was renamed National Irish Bank Limited whilst Northern Bank Limited remained the name of the Northern Ireland operation. Nonetheless, a single management team continued to run both banks, which shared many services and back office functions. During this era, the logo of the National Irish Bank was that of the National Australia Bank (at the time), except that the red star had been recoloured green, and "Irish Bank" was added alongside the word "National". The original Northern Bank logo had been the Midland Bank griffin.

On 10 May 2012, Danske Bank announced that Northern Bank and National Irish Bank would be merged on 1 June 2012, under the Northern Bank management team and the Danske Bank name, effectively reversing the separation between the two. The rebrand was completed on 18 November 2012. At the time the bank closed its 27 branches to focus on corporate and private clients.

On 31 October 2013 Danske Bank announced it would be withdrawing all personal banking services in the Republic of Ireland on a phased basis in the first half of 2014.

Lithuania

Origins of Danske Bank in Lithuania traces back to 1994 when Lietuvos Vystymo bankas (Lithuanian Development Bank) was established. Lietuvos Vystymo bankas was acquired by Sampo in 2000, and after acquisition of Sampa Bank by Danske, Sampo bankas became a branch of Danske Bank.

In 2015 Danske Bank established an IT service centre for its group of companies, Danske Group IT Lietuva (DGITL), in Vilnius. During the past years, Danske Bank has employed more than 4,000 employees in Lithuania. In 2019, Danske Bank announced its intentions of ceasing all banking operations in Lithuania, but keeping the local back-office active for internal activities.

Sweden

Like the other Scandinavian countries, Sweden is one of Danske Bank's largest markets.

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

Danske Bank's Northern Irish subsidiary Northern Bank t/as Danske Bank was founded as the Northern Banking Partnership in Belfast in 1809. It became a public company in 1824 taking the name Northern Banking Company Limited. It became Northern Bank in 1970, after merging with the Belfast Banking Company. Northern Bank was one of the Big Four banks in Northern Ireland. Danske Bank bought the bank from National Australia Bank in December 2004, and Northern Bank continued to operate under its own name until it took on the name of its parent company as its trading name in November 2012. The bank is considered one of the leading retail banks in Northern Ireland with 44 branches and three business centres.

Northern Bank trading as Danske Bank is one of the three commercial banks in Northern Ireland which are permitted to issue their own banknotes.

Estonia

Danske Bank in Estonia traces back to 1992 when Eesti Forekspank was established. In 1995, Raepank merged with. In 1998, Eesti Forekspank merged with Eesti Investeerimispank (EstIB) to create Optiva Bank. In 2000, Optiva was acquired by Finnish Sampo Bank and Optiva was accordingly renamed Sampo Pank. In 2007, when Danske Bank acquired Sampo's banking business, Sampo Pank became a branch of Danske Bank.

In 2014, The Estonian Financial Supervision Authority found "large-scale, long-lasting systemic violations of anti-money laundering rules" in the Estonian branch of Danske Bank and notified the Danish authorities on the findings. According to the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, the activities decreased after they requested the bank to target the violations. In October 2017, Danske Bank confirmed that French authorities were investigating the bank's involvement in money laundering. On 31 July 2018, Estonia's prosecutor general, Lavly Perling, opened a criminal investigation following allegations that the bank had facilitated large-scale money laundering through its Estonian branch. On 19 September 2018, Danske Bank confirmed that Thomas Borgen, CEO of the bank, would resign due to the money laundering scandal. In September, Denmark's Financial Supervisory Authority reopened its investigation of the bank, and the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency announced that it was investigating the use of UK-registered companies. In October, the bank confirmed that the United States Department of Justice had also launched a criminal investigation.

In November, Danish prosecutors filed four preliminary charges against the bank. In February 2019, the Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority ordered the bank to cease its operations in the country within 8 months. In February 2019 Danske announced that it will cease its banking operations in Estonia. In October 2019, the bank closed down all its banking activities in Estonia.

Latvia

Origins of Danske Bank in Latvia traces back to 1996 when Maras banka was established. Maras was acquired by Sampo in 2004, and after acquisition of Sampo Bank by Danske, Sampo banka became a branch of Danske Bank. In February 2019 Danske announced that it will cease its banking operations in Latvia.

Russia

Origins of Danske Bank in Russia traces back to Industry and Finance Bank (Profibank) was acquired by Sampo in 2006. after acquisition of Sampo Bank by Danske, it became a branch of Danske Bank. In February 2019 Danske announced that it will cease its banking operations in Russia.