Artea Bank
A Lithuanian commercial bank serving retail and business customers.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Artea Bank is a Lithuanian commercial bank formerly known as Šiaulių bankas. Established in 1992, it developed from a regional banking institution into one of Lithuania’s significant banks, serving households, small and medium-sized enterprises, larger commercial customers, and other institutional clients. Its business covers the core activities of a universal commercial bank, including deposits, lending, payments, accounts, and related financial services. The bank’s development accelerated through acquisitions and balance-sheet expansion. In 2013, it took over assets from the failed Lithuanian bank Ūkio bankas. The transaction involved assets reported at approximately LTL 2.7 billion and was supported by a LTL 69 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The EBRD later became a major shareholder after converting loans to the bank into equity. By 2018, it held approximately 26% of the company’s shares. Artea Bank has been listed on Nasdaq Vilnius since 1994, initially on the exchange’s Secondary List and, from 2006, on its Main List. Ownership changed materially in 2021 when the EBRD sold an 18% shareholding to Invalda INVL, Nord Security, and ME Investicija. The bank subsequently expanded its relationship with the Invalda INVL group. In 2023, it merged with Invalda INVL and its retail business, creating a broader financial-services platform and a new corporate structure led by a former director of INVL Investment Management. The institution became subject to direct European Central Bank supervision after being designated a significant institution within European Banking Supervision in 2019. This status reflects its systemic importance within Lithuania’s banking sector and places it within the framework of the euro area’s Single Supervisory Mechanism. In 2022, the bank reported profit exceeding €63 million and a loan portfolio of approximately €2.6 billion. On 7 May 2025, its general shareholders’ meeting approved a change of corporate and brand name to Artea. The renamed bank continues the Lithuanian commercial-banking activities associated with Šiaulių bankas while presenting itself as part of a broader financial-services organization.
History
Artea Bank was founded in Lithuania in 1992 under the Šiaulių bankas name. It initially operated as a Lithuanian banking institution with a strong regional identity, but over time expanded its activities to encompass retail customers, businesses, and broader commercial-banking services. A major turning point came in 2013, when the bank took over assets from Ūkio bankas. The assets were reported at approximately LTL 2.7 billion. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development supported the transaction with a loan of LTL 69 million. The EBRD subsequently became an important shareholder by converting loans to the bank into shares. Its holding reached approximately 26% by 2018, making it the largest shareholder reported at that time. The company has been publicly traded in Lithuania for much of its history. It entered the Nasdaq Vilnius Secondary List in 1994 and moved to the exchange’s Main List in 2006. Its public listing provided a capital-market foundation for later growth and changes in ownership. In 2019, the bank was designated a significant institution under European Banking Supervision. As a result, it became directly supervised by the European Central Bank, rather than being supervised solely through Lithuania’s national banking authorities. The designation reflected the bank’s importance within the Lithuanian and euro-area banking system. Ownership and strategic direction changed further in 2021. The EBRD sold an 18% stake to Invalda INVL, Nord Security, and ME Investicija. The transaction connected the bank more closely with Lithuanian investment and technology-related shareholders. In 2023, the bank merged with Invalda INVL and its retail business. The resulting organization was intended to combine banking with a broader set of financial-services activities and was headed by a former director of INVL Investment Management. The bank’s reported 2022 results included profit of more than €63 million and a loan portfolio of approximately €2.6 billion. These figures placed it among Lithuania’s significant domestic banking institutions, although the available reference material does not provide a complete breakdown of revenue, assets, customer numbers, or product-level performance. On 7 May 2025, the general shareholders’ meeting decided to rename the institution Artea Bank. The name change marked the latest stage in its evolution from a bank associated with Šiauliai into a broader Lithuanian financial-services brand. The institution remains active and continues to provide retail and commercial banking services in Lithuania.
- 2025
Renamed Artea Bank
[1]Shareholders approved the change of name from Šiaulių bankas to Artea Bank.
- 2023
Merger with Invalda INVL and its retail business
[1]The bank merged with Invalda INVL and its retail business as part of a broader financial-services combination.
- 2022
Reported strong annual performance
[1]The bank reported profit exceeding €63 million and a loan portfolio of approximately €2.6 billion.
- 2021
EBRD stake sale
[1]The EBRD sold an 18% holding to Invalda INVL, Nord Security, and ME Investicija.
- 2019
Designated a significant institution
[1]The bank was designated a significant institution under European Banking Supervision and became directly supervised by the European Central Bank.
- 2018
EBRD became the largest reported shareholder
[1]The EBRD held approximately 26% of the company’s shares after converting loans into equity.
- 2013
Ūkio bankas asset takeover
[1]The bank took over assets from Ūkio bankas in a transaction supported by an EBRD loan.
- 2006
Moved to the Nasdaq Vilnius Main List
[1]The company’s shares were admitted to the Main List of Nasdaq Vilnius.
- 1994
Initial Nasdaq Vilnius listing
[1]The company began trading on the Secondary List of the Vilnius stock exchange.
- 1992
Bank established
[1]The institution that later became Artea Bank was established in Lithuania under the Šiaulių bankas name.
Products and positioning
A Lithuanian universal commercial bank with roots in regional banking and a growing retail and business-finance presence. The institution combines conventional banking services with a broader financial-services strategy developed through acquisitions and integration with Invalda INVL-related businesses.
Personal finance
Retail banking
Artea Bank provides everyday banking services for individuals, including deposit and account relationships, payment services, and lending. The retail business became more strategically important through the 2023 combination involving Invalda INVL and its retail business. The available reference material identifies retail banking as a core activity but does not specify the full current product catalogue.
Business finance
Commercial banking
The bank serves commercial customers with business accounts, payments, deposits, and credit facilities. Its lending activities include financing for companies and small and medium-sized enterprises. Commercial banking is part of the institution’s core universal-bank model, although detailed segment figures are not provided in the supplied reference.
Deposit products
Deposits and savings
Deposit and savings services form part of the bank’s standard retail and commercial offering. These products allow individuals and organizations to hold funds with the bank and support its wider role as a deposit-taking commercial institution. Specific account names, rates, and terms are not documented in the supplied material.
Credit
Lending
Lending is a central part of Artea Bank’s business, spanning retail and commercial borrowers. The bank reported a loan portfolio of approximately €2.6 billion for 2022. The reference material does not provide a detailed split between mortgages, consumer credit, corporate facilities, or other loan categories.
Payments
Payment and account services
The bank offers account and payment services to its retail and business customers as part of its universal commercial-banking proposition. The supplied sources do not identify particular payment products, digital platforms, card brands, or transaction volumes.
Brand decisions
2025
Change of name to Artea BankStrategyBackground
Following the 2023 combination with Invalda INVL and its retail business, the institution adopted a broader financial-services identity.
Action taken
The general shareholders’ meeting approved changing the bank’s name from Šiaulių bankas to Artea Bank on 7 May 2025.
Aftermath
The renaming marked the transition from the long-standing Šiaulių bankas identity to the Artea Bank brand.
2023
Merger with Invalda INVL and its retail businessM&ABackground
The bank pursued a broader financial-services model following changes in ownership and its relationship with Invalda INVL.
Action taken
Šiaulių bankas merged with Invalda INVL and its retail business.
Aftermath
The combination created a broader financial-services organization and introduced a new management structure led by a former INVL Investment Management director.
2021
Sale of the EBRD shareholdingM&ABackground
The EBRD had become a major shareholder through the conversion of earlier lending into equity.
Action taken
The EBRD sold an 18% stake in the bank to Invalda INVL, Nord Security, and ME Investicija.
Aftermath
The transaction changed the shareholder structure and strengthened the connection between the bank and Lithuanian investment-related shareholders.
2013
Takeover of Ūkio bankas assetsM&ABackground
Ūkio bankas was being resolved, creating an opportunity for Šiaulių bankas to assume a substantial asset pool and expand its position in Lithuania’s banking market.
Action taken
The bank took over assets reported at approximately LTL 2.7 billion, with an LTL 69 million loan from the EBRD supporting the transaction.
Aftermath
The transaction materially increased the bank’s scale and contributed to the EBRD becoming a significant shareholder after loan conversion into equity.
Assets taken over and EBRD financing. Approximately LTL 2.7 billion in assets taken over; LTL 69 million EBRD loan (2013)
Recent events
- 2025
Artea Bank approved as the new name of Šiaulių bankas[1]
Leadership change · Other
The general shareholders’ meeting approved changing the bank’s name to Artea on 7 May 2025.
- 2023
Šiaulių bankas merged with Invalda INVL and its retail business[1]
M&A
The bank completed a merger involving Invalda INVL and its retail business, broadening the group’s financial-services structure.
- 2021
EBRD sold part of its Šiaulių bankas stake[1]
M&A
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development sold an 18% holding in the bank to Invalda INVL, Nord Security, and ME Investicija.
- 2013
Šiaulių bankas took over assets from Ūkio bankas[1]
M&A
The bank assumed assets from Ūkio bankas in a transaction involving approximately LTL 2.7 billion of assets and EBRD financing.
Sources1 sources
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