Handelsbanken is one of few banks in the world with a credit rating of AA. On 26 May 2016, the international rating agency Fitch updated its credit ratings for the Swedish banks. Handelsbanken’s long-term credit rating was upgraded one notch to AA from AA-. In 2015, Handelsbanken’s credit rating from Moody’s was also raised to the equivalent level.

Overall, Handelsbanken is the only bank in Europe with such a high rating from Fitch. There are only two other comparable banks in the world with AA.