About KBN
With total assets of about NOK 500 billion, Kommunalbanken AS (KBN) is one of the largest financial institutions in Norway. We provide loans to the local government sector, and our ambition is to contribute to the development of sustainable communities.
KBN is 100% owned by the Norwegian state. Our objective is to provide loans to municipalities, county authorities and companies that carry out local government tasks. KBN was first established in 1927 and is today the largest lender to the local government sector.
Our total lending to the sector is in excess of
NOK 336bn
Building sustainable communities
KBN has a strong market position and seeks to use this to promote sustainable communities. We are committed to ensuring municipalities make environmentally and climate-conscious choices when investing, and we offer a slightly lower interest rate on loans for projects that are ambitious from a climate perspective. We also use some of our resources to help municipalities’ elected representatives and administrative teams improve their knowledge of climate change.
One of the largest Norwegian borrower
KBN finances its lending to the local government sector by borrowing money directly in the capital markets. KBN is today one of the largest Norwegian borrowers in the international capital markets, and each year it needs to borrow around NOK 100 billion. KBN green bonds finance the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient future in Norwegian local societies. KBN has more than ten years’ history as an issuer of green bonds, which are a central pillar in our long-term work on corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
AAA-rating
KBN has a conservative risk profile and is one of the few AAA-rated financial institutions in the world. KBN has never suffered any losses on its lending. As a state-owned company with a public mandate, strong capital base, robust operations and low risk appetite, KBN holds the highest possible credit rating from both Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s.