Niche Norwegian lender Pareto Bank increased shipping lending in the fourth quarter of 2020 as markets rebounded.

The Oslo-listed bank said its shipping exposure rose to NOK 1.07bn ($123m) by 31 December, up from NOK 978m at the end of the third quarter.

Pareto now has 20 shipowner clients and 36 ships on its books, up from 17 owners and 30 vessels three months earlier.