Winners Rationale

“Julius Baer’s focused wealth-only model continues to set it apart, translating deep client trust into sustained growth across Asia and beyond. Over the past year, the bank has seen strong momentum in client assets, new money, and transactional activity, reflecting high engagement from UHNW and entrepreneur-led clients,” said Audrey Raj, editor of Asian Private Banker.

“Led by Jimmy Lee, core Asian markets including Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Japan, and Thailand remain key drivers of expansion, with discretionary portfolio management performing strongly and the intermediaries desk delivering robust growth, reflecting client confidence and effective execution.

“Cross-border connectivity remains a core strength, with the Asia–Switzerland desk driving referrals and supporting complex estate planning, succession, and cross-border transactions, contributing to strong net new money inflows and year-on-year revenue growth from both recurring and transactional income.

“In India, the hybrid onshore–offshore model continues to serve UHNW clients, complemented by expanded alternative investment offerings. In Southeast Asia, the bank strengthened its Thailand joint venture and accelerated client acquisition across Greater China, Japan, and regional hubs through improved onboarding and account-opening efficiency.

“Innovation reinforced its edge, with a dedicated AI, Data & Innovation unit in Singapore and the rollout of regulated GenAI tools across advisory, compliance, and operations, demonstrating practical, scalable innovation. Diversity remains a priority, with women well represented in senior leadership, reflecting an inclusive culture that drives performance.

“Sustainability initiatives advanced across Asia, from partnerships on sustainable aviation fuel and mangrove restoration to promoting early childhood education. A significant portion of discretionary mandates, trading, treasury, and lending activities now target companies with science-based goals, moving towards full alignment in the future.

“For all these reasons, Julius Baer has been awarded Best Private Bank – Pure Play. Congratulations to the team.”