Photos: A Laundromat Opens in Swedbank’s Former Banking Complex

A large “LAUNDROMAT” sign now greets visitors at the former Swedbank complex on Liivalaia Street in central Tallinn. Where banking transactions once took place, people can now wash clothes in self-service machines.

Swedbank moved its headquarters to the new Arter district in 2025 and closed its Liivalaia 8 branch, which had served as the bank’s headquarters for more than 30 years. The new laundromat operates at Liivalaia 14 and is open every day from 6 a.m. to midnight.

The contrast is striking. The complex was once associated with Hansapank and later Swedbank, and thousands of bank employees worked there. The article also points to the location’s ironic edge: Swedbank was previously linked to a major money-laundering scandal, while legal washing now takes place in real washing machines at its former premises.

Swedbank’s departure freed more than 25,000 square meters of office space across Liivalaia 8/12 and Liivalaia 14. The former headquarters at Liivala 8/12 contained nearly 22,500 square meters of office space, while the bank rented more than 4,500 square meters at Liivalaia 14.

The former headquarters changed ownership last year. ERR reported that Prategli Invest, owned by Estonian entrepreneurs, acquired the building. A representative said the initial plan was to continue renting out the property rather than demolish it.