A sharp retreat in foreign venture capital and chronic rupee depreciation are driving India’s ultra high net worth families to pivot inward, funnelling massive domestic liquidity into private equity and private credit to capture elusive double-digit returns. “While well established in the West, this (private markets) is something that is growing in leaps and bounds in India,” Manoj Shenoy, co-founder […]

The post Indian UHNWs pile into private markets as foreign VC retreats appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

KGI Securities Thailand has made a senior hire to strengthen its wealth business, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Based in Bangkok, Theeraphat Buakai has been appointed as head of sales for KGI Private Wealth, the firm’s private wealth arm. He will report to Charn Phenjati, head of wealth management. KGI Securities has been contacted for comment. Buakai has over 15 […]

The post KGI Securities Thailand makes senior hire for wealth business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While Southeast Asia’s emerging wealth markets have historically been driven by transactional brokerage and advisory trading, a structural shift is underway. According to Abhishek Mehrotra, HSBC Private Bank’s market head of Southeast Asia international, younger wealth generators across Thailand and the Philippines are pivoting toward discretionary mandates and alternative investments – fundamentally altering how international lenders scale their operations in […]

The post HSBC PB targets ASEAN growth with discretionary mandates appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from CICC. On 28 May 2026, CICC successfully held the CICC 2026 London Wealth Management Forum in London, the UK. Centred on the theme “Bridging and Transcending,” the forum brought over 200 representatives from various sectors to engage in in-depth discussions on global economic developments, China-UK economic and financial cooperation, and multi-asset allocation, focusing on […]

The post CICC 2026 London Wealth Management Forum successfully held appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from Swiss-Asia Financial Services. Wealth management is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Is a private bank still the best place to manage wealth today? This is no longer a fringe concern; it is central to the industry’s future. The great wealth transfer and technological shift Private wealth management has arrived at a crossroads with one of […]

The post Are modern brokers the new private bank? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

DBS is set to expand its digital gold offering, with high net worth investors and institutional partners on its DBS Digital Exchange expected to soon gain access to tokenised physical gold. The move extends a service that will be made available to retail customers via DBS digibank in the second half of the year, the bank said on Thursday. The […]

The post DBS expands bullion offering with physical gold token appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, and while 48 teams across the US, Canada and Mexico compete for football’s biggest prize, investors are focused on a different scoreboard: the billions of dollars in economic activity expected to be generated by the largest tournament in history. This year’s competition will feature 104 matches, up from 64 previously, and […]

The post World Cup 2026: DBS, UBS, Deutsche Bank map the money play appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Mainland China’s private banking sector has scaled an unprecedented new peak, with aggregate assets under management (AUM) for the top 20 players climbing 13% year-on-year to reach RMB 29.7 trillion (US$4.4 trillion) in 2025. According to Asian Private Banker’s latest China League Tables, this asset surge coincides with a historic expansion of the country’s high net worth (HNW) demographic, which […]

The post China 2025 AUM League Tables: Top 20 hit US$4.4tn as HNW client count crosses 2mn appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese mainland customers can still open bank accounts in Hong Kong “smoothly” as lenders implement new regulatory requirements, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said on Saturday. “The banking industry has implemented the new regulatory requirements set out in the HKMA circular to ensure the account opening process is compliant and orderly,” a spokesperson for the HKMA said. “Chinese mainland […]

The post HKMA: Mainland account openings in Hong Kong unaffected by new rules appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

RBC Wealth Management is tapping rising demand for complex cross-border wealth planning, supported by its bank-owned trust infrastructure, as it expands in Asia’s wealth market. The Canadian wealth manager was among the most active hirers in Asia in 2025, with higher RM headcount and redesigned team structures that place greater accountability on team leaders. “If we drill down to wealth, […]

The post RBC WM grows RM ranks in Asia — scale or shift to advice-led banking? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A series of bruising market sell-offs in recent years has triggered a fundamental behavioural shift among Asia Pacific’s ultra-wealthy, driving record inflows into discretionary portfolio management (DPM). At UBS Global Wealth Management (UBS GWM), this momentum has propelled regional DPM assets to nearly US$100 billion, as clients increasingly abandon self-directed trading in favour of institutional-grade risk management amid persistent geopolitical […]

The post UBS hits record DPM growth in Asia as volatility drives adoption appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Onshore Thailand client portfolios have shifted toward global and alternative investments, prompting private banks to expand their offerings and strengthen relationships with global managers to meet rising demand. Speaking at Asian Private Banker‘s Thailand Global Wealth Summit 2026, with over 150 attendees, leaders in Thailand’s private banking space focused their discussion on the evolution of the typical private banking client […]

The post Thai private banks race to meet demand for global, alts investments appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Maybank Securities Thailand has appointed a veteran private wealth executive to strengthen its wealth management business amid intensifying competition for Thai high net worth clients. Vasin Sukwatwibul was named managing director and head of wealth management, according to a company announcement. He will oversee the firm’s wealth management business and drive its growth strategy in the segment. Sukwatwibul brings more than […]

The post Maybank Thailand hires wealth management head from Kiatnakin Phatra appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As women assume central roles in family wealth succession in China, HSBC Private Bank is sharpening its focus on this strategic client base, which has traditionally been underserved by the wealth industry. “These women are not passive beneficiaries; they are active decision-makers who demand clarity, structure, and real-world execution,” said Edith Wong, head of the southern region for the private […]

The post HSBC PB bets on women as key drivers of family wealth in China appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Independent wealth managers in Australia have been propelled by the downsizing of wealth businesses at the country’s Big Four following findings of systemic misconduct in 2019. Since then, by targeting an underserved ‘forgotten middle’ of high net worth (HNW) clients, one such firm, Koda Capital, has amassed A$16.5 billion (US$11.9 billion) in AUM. When veteran operators Paul Heath, Steve Tucker […]

The post Koda Capital nets US$11.9bn as Australia’s HNWs look beyond Big Four appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

An increase in private wealth in Taiwan, underpinned by the booming semiconductor market, has prompted private banks to scramble to meet the growing demand for first-rate onshore wealth management, spurring many to kick-start their digitalisation efforts or fall behind their peers. The TAIEX, the main index of Taiwan’s stock exchange, is up 42% YTD, outperforming the S&P 500’s 9.2% YTD […]

The post Taiwan private banks ramp up digital push amid chip-fuelled wealth boom appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While several private banks have chosen to divest their trust businesses, Kotak Mahindra stuck to its guns in the belief that trusts would become the key vehicle for legacy planning in India’s growing wealth market. Kotak first unveiled a wealth management business in 2004. A year later, it established a dedicated trust business, Kotak Mahindra Trusteeship Services (KMTSL), and hired Gautami […]

The post Kotak’s US$5.4bn trust business bucks private banking divestment trend appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from Swiss-Asia Financial Services. As wealth structuring practices become increasingly sophisticated and international, seasoned independent asset manager Don Toh shares why external asset management (EAM) in Singapore is a prime strategy for cross-border growth. From private banking to true independence After decades within premier global private banks, including Standard Chartered Private Bank and Credit Suisse, […]

The post Pathway to independence: Why a wealth manager covering Taiwan chose external asset management appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Since geopolitical escalations began in late February, client meeting volume at J.P. Morgan Private Bank has surged. However, the tone of these conversations has shifted significantly compared to the panic during last year’s Liberation Day, according to Yuxuan Tang, the US bank’s Asia head of rates and FX strategy. “Clients are relatively calm this time around. We don’t really see […]

The post “Our view is a bit contrarian”: J.P. Morgan PB sticks to China bet through mounting Middle East tension appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker held the inaugural Taipei Global Wealth Summit this Tuesday, drawing more than 500 delegates for a day of high-level discussions on Taiwan’s fast-evolving financial landscape. In its inaugural edition, the summit comes at a time when Taiwan’s wealth management sector is undergoing a strategic transformation, supported by a wave of government reforms. It also coincides with a […]

The post APB debuts Taipei Global Wealth Summit amid AI-driven wealth surge appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore is shifting back into “aggressive” recruitment mode for 2026, betting that its investments in its talent and platform will bring a “second year of harvesting” for its Greater China business. The Singapore-based lender’s Greater China AUM grew by more than 20% year-on-year, with UHNW assets increasing by 50% in 2025. Revenue growth was over 25%, driven by […]

The post Bank of Singapore to resume “aggressive” hiring as Greater China UHNW assets jump 50% appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese wealth manager GROW Investment Group is expanding its business in the Middle East, shunning geopolitical noise and betting on its AI-driven digital wealth platform for growth. The firm, backed by Swiss pure-play Julius Baer, has recently received in-principle approval to conduct both asset management and wealth management business in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM), it shared with Asian […]

The post Chinese wealth manager GROW ramps up Middle East push despite Iran war appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Deutsche Bank Private Bank’s discretionary portfolio management (DPM) business in Asia Pacific continued to grow in 2025, supported by both market gains and sustained inflows into managed solutions amid higher volatility. DPM assets in the region rose to US$6.8 billion, up from US$5 billion in 2024, according to APB data. “We had a pretty good year in DPM. We are […]

The post “Pretty good year”: Jacky Tang unpacks Deutsche Bank’s DPM push in APAC appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-headquartered global investment firm Lighthouse Canton is eyeing Taiwan as a springboard to accelerate its wealth push into the North Asia market as part of its 2027 goal of reaching US$10 billion in assets under management. The firm has entered a strategic partnership with Taiwan’s Draco Evolution to merge AI capabilities with global asset management expertise, according to a company […]

The post Lighthouse Canton taps Taiwan fintech for North Asia wealth push  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s private banking AUM has crossed the US$4 trillion mark, according to Asian Private Banker‘s 2025 League Tables. With J.P. Morgan Private Bank entering the top three for the first time and Nomura International Wealth Management (IWM) making its debut in the tables, the 2025 rankings saw widespread movements. J.P. Morgan Private Bank led this growth with a 41% increase […]

The post Asia 2025 AUM League Tables: Assets cross US$4tn, JPM enters top three, Nomura debuts appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wealth in India is no longer concentrated in a handful of big cities. It’s being created and amassed not just in tier-one hubs like Mumbai and Delhi, but in dozens of smaller cities once considered backwaters. Private banks and wealth managers are following the money, setting up shop in places they once ignored. Wealth management coverage in India used to […]

The post Why India’s private banks are chasing hidden regional wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker successfully hosted the China Wealth Awards 2025 gala dinner in Shanghai on Thursday, gathering the brightest minds in China’s private banking and wealth management industry. Against a glittering backdrop, the event brought together about 140 industry leaders and offered high-level networking, insightful discussion, and formal recognition of industry-leading excellence. Beyond celebrating individual and institutional success, the gala […]

The post APB’s 8th China Wealth Awards brings together industry leaders in Shanghai appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

For years, Southeast Asia’s wealth management landscape was defined by regional giants with broad multi-market footprints, while local players were often left competing in lower-margin, transactional segments. That hierarchy is now being challenged. In Thailand, Kiatnakin Phatra Securities (KKPS) has positioned itself at the centre of this shift, moving away from a long-standing “product-pushing” legacy toward building more sophisticated, high-conviction […]

The post Thailand’s Kiatnakin Phatra shakes off ‘product-push’ legacy in DPM pivot appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The United Arab Emirates’ status as a hub for wealthy Asian clients and family offices remains intact, despite safety concerns and uncertainty stemming from the ongoing Iran war, which threatens the emirates’ image as a wealth haven, independent wealth managers told Asian Private Banker. “Our outlook on business prospects in the Middle East remains positive,” Derrick Tan, group executive chairman, […]

The post Independent wealth managers hold firm in UAE amid Iran tensions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s family offices are turning to discretionary portfolio management (DPM) to navigate the twin challenges of intergenerational wealth transfer and an increasingly volatile market, according to industry experts speaking recently Asian Private Banker’s DPM Leaders Conversation 2026. “Family offices are increasingly shifting from an opportunistic mindset into a more systematic mindset. I think that’s where DPM comes into place because […]

The post UBS, Lombard Odier: How DPM is bridging generational rifts appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Is a DPM lead’s duty to protect clients by steering clear of what they cannot see, or to deliver outsized returns by mastering the complexities that frighten the broader market? This is the question that sparked a heated discussion by panellists at the Asian Private Banker DPM Leaders Conversation 2026 in Singapore.  For Bryan Goh, chief executive officer and chief […]

The post DPMLC 2026: Protect clients or chase returns? Tsao FO, Paragon Capital, Deutsche Bank weigh in appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Vietnam’s newly wealthy are beginning to hand control of their assets to professional managers, creating a vast new opportunity for firms such as Dragon Capital, the country’s largest independent wealth manager. Dominic Scriven, chairman and co-founder, says the shift has accelerated over the past year. “One of the most gratifying surprises of the last 12 months… is the number of […]

The post Succession and investor pivot spark Vietnam’s wealth boom appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese wealth manager Noah is seeing the impact of its artificial intelligence (AI) investments, with overseas assets under management (AUM) reaching US$6 billion amid global expansion. The NYSE-listed firm reported an 11% decline in headcount in 2025, while revenue remained stable, citing AI-driven operational efficiency in its latest annual report published in late March. Zander Yin, chief executive officer of […]

The post China’s Noah taps AI as overseas AUM hits US$6bn appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

LGT Capital Partners is seeing rising interest in endowment-style investing from Asia’s wealth management sector, citing its liquidity management and over 50% exposure to private markets from day one as a way to capture long-term opportunities. Historically, investors relied on the 60/40 model, assuming fixed income would provide a hedge. But 2022 proved there was nowhere to hide as traditional […]

The post Inside LGT Capital Partners’ US$24bn endowment-style playbook appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

HSBC has made two senior appointments to its wealth business in mainland China, as the UK lender steps up efforts to capture opportunities in the world’s second-largest wealth market. Max Xu has been appointed head of international wealth and premier banking (IWPB), HSBC China, while Samuel Chen has been named head of private bank, HSBC China. Both appointments are effective […]

The post HSBC names new China wealth and private banking heads appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS Global Wealth Management (UBS GWM) is shunning the branch-opening race in Mainland China, betting instead that a double-digit net hiring blitz in Hong Kong and its “One Bank” approach will better capture expanding private wealth in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Over the past three years, UBS GWM’s China international business, headed by Marina Lui, has grown AUM by […]

The post UBS GWM China AUM up 50%, eyes double-digit hires appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from Avaloq. Regulatory reforms and solid economic fundamentals are driving a quiet transformation in Taiwan’s financial sector. The island’s push for more onshore wealth services is opening the door to high-quality advisory and investment offerings for local investors. Avaloq and NEC Taiwan explore this ongoing shift and its implications for Asia’s wealth management landscape. Taiwan […]

The post The shift to onshore: How Taiwan is transforming into a hub for private wealth management appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Erratic markets are making it increasingly difficult for advisory “DIY” clients to effectively manage their whole portfolios, panellists at the Asian Private Banker DPM Leaders Conversation 2026 in Singapore said. During the panel discussion, DPM mandate trends 2026: Navigating black swan events & lessons learned, Jia Hao Sng, head, CIO office mandate specialist, Singapore, at Julius Baer, commented that while […]

The post DPMLC 2026: Are erratic markets killing off advisory models in favour of DPM? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Wealth Management (Pictet WM) has explicitly eschewed the practice of distributing products to capture placement or retrocession fees, betting instead on its commingled fund-of-funds vehicle, bespoke mandates and co-investment capability to offer clients diversified private-market exposure. “We don’t establish feeder funds just to channel client money into individual strategies. We view this as a complex asset class that requires a […]

The post Why Pictet WM shuns feeder funds, retrocession fees in alts mandates appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As some of the world’s largest asset managers flood private banking channels with semi-liquid ‘evergreen’ vehicles, Lombard Odier’s global private assets team is drawing a line in the sand.  While many private banks have tapped into the evergreen space to unlock revenue from the massive, untapped wealth of high net worth (HNW) and mass-affluent investors as they seek diversification, the […]

The post Lombard Odier rejects semi-liquid hype, doubles down on private asset lock-ups appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As the escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to rock global markets, wealth clients in Asia are seeking greater downside protection alongside performance, and allocations that capture growth beyond the US dollar, according to panellists at the Asian Private Banker DPM Leaders Conversation 2026 in Hong Kong. The panel discussion, DPM mandate trends 2026: Navigating black swan events & […]

The post DPMLC 2026: Black swan risks trigger client flight to non-USD mandates appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Growing geopolitical instability in the Middle East is driving a reassessment of global booking centres, providing a tailwind for Hong Kong’s newly expanded “Family Office 2.0” strategy, according to Jason Fong, global head of FamilyOffice HK. “Legal certainty and continuity are exactly the kind of assurances super‑rich families look for when choosing a jurisdiction for their family offices,” Fong told […]

The post Family Office 2.0: Can Hong Kong’s ‘safe pocket’ narrative win over skittish global wealth? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As data centres trigger a surge in energy demand, EQT is making the case that infrastructure investments should transition from a “niche” allocation to a core holding in Asian private banking portfolios. Private banks, including the likes of Julius Baer, HSBC Private Bank, BNP Paribas Wealth Management, and UBP, have also picked up on this growing trend. BNP Paribas Wealth Management, for instance, […]

The post EQT bets on infrastructure as private wealth’s new “core” appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Shun Wei Ong stepped into his role as head of discretionary portfolio management (DPM) Singapore for Barclays Private Bank in June 2024, his orders were direct.  “The mandate that was given to me was short and crystal clear — to build an investment management hub in Singapore for Barclays Private Bank. It quickly became apparent that the opportunity was […]

The post Barclays pivots to Asia-centric DPM ahead of Singapore booking centre launch appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

June Wong’s career trajectory is characterised by bold pivots: she first traded an engineering background for a future in finance, and more recently, bridged the gap between risk management and the front office. To Wong, who is now the APAC head of lending at Deutsche Bank Private Bank, these transitions drilled home the lesson that growth and comfort cannot coexist. […]

The post Deutsche Bank PB’s APAC lending head brings engineering rigour to art financing appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore’s investment advisory unit reported a 40% revenue surge last year, driven by a pivot into AI-themed structured products, gold momentum and a timely bet on Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds. “The first month of this year has been fantastic, and we are also investing a lot into our processes and products. We can see those investments are […]

The post Bank of Singapore investment advisory revenue jumps 40% appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In the early hours of the morning in Hong Kong, a wealth adviser found himself handling an unusual request from several clients — not about portfolio allocations or investment opportunities, but about arranging private jets out of the Middle East. The episode reflects a broader shift quietly unfolding as rising geopolitical tensions prompt wealthy Asians to reassess where their assets […]

The post Send the private jet — Asia’s rich weigh Dubai exit as regional risks mount appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Divorce, widowhood and business exits are transition points where control of wealth shifts, and client loyalty is tested. As more women inherit and create wealth, private banks face a simple challenge: listen better or risk losing assets. “It’s really important to listen,” said Gillian Gordon, head of alternative investments & responsible investing at JBWere, a private bank owned by Melbourne-based National […]

The post IWD 2026 — The moment women decide which advisors stay  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients are increasingly seeking to tap everything from luxury assets to superyachts to unlock extra liquidity amid uncertain markets, as demand for strategic lending starts to rival that of traditional margin loans. In response, private banks are poaching from investment banking benches for rare talent with specialised lending experience to meet demand. Asian Private Banker […]

The post Private banks build “weapons-grade” lending platforms to meet surging UHNW demand appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As women come to control a growing share of Australia’s private wealth, Morgan Stanley’s Rebecca Hill said the industry must rebuild its pipeline of female advisors – a shift that will take years to reach senior ranks. As Australia’s wealth industry turns its attention to women as clients and creators of capital, one question lingers: why is the country’s private […]

The post IWD 2026 — “Private banking side is lagging”: Morgan Stanley Australia wealth head on gender gap  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s Haitong International Securities (Haitong International) is aiming to capitalise on the growing trend of Chinese companies ‘going global’ by collaborating with a Singapore-based single-family office. Haitong International, one of the international arms of Guotai Haitong Securities, signed a strategic partnership with Shaw Investment APAC to support Chinese enterprises seeking overseas expansion, compliant outbound capital deployment and access to international […]

The post Haitong secures US$3bn Singapore family office partner for China enterprise push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Standard Chartered CIO is taking a granular look at the potential winners and losers of the AI cycle, identifying labour-intensive sectors as particularly vulnerable to AI displacement, while utilities stand to gain from tailwinds. The emerging markets-focused lender has also revised its CapEx expectations for global AI upwards, from 40% to 54% growth, but believes there is no tech bubble […]

The post StanChart CIO warns: Labour-heavy sectors at risk as AI CapEx boom accelerates appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management (BNP Paribas WM)’s bet on a boots-on-the-ground onshore team in Thailand appears to be paying off, with surges in account openings, AUM and revenue. While international private banks are still operating from a small base in Thailand, Bangkok-based Daniel Peter, who heads up the bank’s onshore Thailand business, argues that onshore clients’ pivot to global assets […]

The post BNP Paribas WM’s Thai onshore AUM jumps 60% as clients pivot to global assets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Thailand has emerged as a new growth engine for Asia’s external asset managers (EAMs) as they aim to break into new markets amid rising industry competition. In one example, Singaporean EAM WRISE recently entered into a collaboration with Thai-based advisory firm IFCG Public Company, the firms said in a statement on Tuesday. Under the tie-up, WRISE will provide its platform […]

The post Thailand emerges as a hotspot as Asia’s EAMs eye new markets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The recent events in the Middle East may constitute the largest escalation in conflict in decades. But despite this, private banks, accustomed to volatile markets, are remaining calm, believing that disruption is likely to be only temporary, with trends such as AI capital expenditure more consequential in the long run. Attacks on Iran on 28 February 2026, led by the […]

The post Middle East shock fails to rattle private banks as CIOs hold firm appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A seasoned Southeast Asia-focused private banker has launched an external asset management (EAM) firm in Singapore, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Serene Tan has established UDS Capital and assumed the role of chief executive officer, the firm shared exclusively with APB. The newly formed EAM will focus on serving ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients across Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on […]

The post Ex-Credit Suisse private banker launches EAM in Singapore appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Azim Premji was born in 1945, his hometown of Mumbai was called Bombay, India laboured under British rule, and the technology industry that would come to define his fortune at IT giant Wipro was barely visible on the horizon. Had he retired after building Wipro, Premji would likely be remembered as a disciplined and understated industrialist. Instead, he began […]

The post How this Indian family office built a US$33bn philanthropic endowment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from Swiss-Asia Financial Services. After 20 years in private banking, Dennis Cheng chose Swiss-Asia Financial Services for truly independent, client-first wealth management. Background and motivation Could you share a bit about your career path prior to joining Swiss-Asia? I graduated from the University of Queensland in 2000 with a degree in Banking and Finance. Over […]

The post Why I left traditional banking for a conflict-free wealth management model appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong is sweetening the pot for single-family offices (SFOs) by expanding tax concessions to include digital assets, specified commodities and precious metals, a move designed to cement the city’s status as a top-tier wealth hub amid fierce regional competition. It will introduce an amendment bill in the first half of this year, with a view to implementing it from […]

The post Hong Kong 2026 Budget: Government lures SFOs with tax concessions for gold, digital assets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from Huatai International. As the global landscape undergoes profound restructuring and AI technology reshapes industrial ecosystems, wealth management has evolved beyond merely accumulating wealth to becoming a long-term strategy encompassing cognitive depth, resource abundance, and emotional connection. On 27-28 January 2026, the Huatai Private Wealth Management Client Annual Conference was held in Hong Kong. Marking […]

The post Huatai Private Wealth Management successfully concludes Client Annual Conference 2026  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China Merchant Bank International (CMBI) has entered into an agreement with MA Financial Group (MA Financial) to offer UHNW individuals a private credit strategy that seeks to capture opportunities in Asia. The duo will jointly manage the MA CMBI APAC Credit Opportunities Fund, structured as a Cayman limited partnership. It focuses on senior secured leveraged loans to sponsor-backed corporate borrowers […]

The post CMBI teams up with private credit boutique to expand UHNW offering appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-based independent wealth manager WRISE has expanded its presence in Taiwan, aiming to meet the evolving needs of ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) individuals and families. The firm recently opened a client service centre in Taipei to provide advisory and consultation services, according to a statement. The centre will also roll out family wealth–focused educational and engagement programmes, designed to foster next-generation dialogue […]

The post WRISE expands into Taiwan to serve UHNW families appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The number of single-family offices (SFOs) in Hong Kong has increased by around 25% over the past two years as the Asian financial hub continues to see strong growth momentum for its wealth management industry. Hong Kong has attracted an additional 681 SFOs to establish their businesses in the city since the end of 2023, when there were 2703 family […]

The post Hong Kong family office boom: New SFOs jump 25% in two years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chubb Investment Management Hong Kong has launched a wealth management platform in the city, Chubb Wealth, targeting high net worth investors. Chubb Investment Management Hong Kong, a wholly owned subsidiary of Chubb, aims to provide digital investing and wealth management services for clients, covering the entire client lifecycle from onboarding through to execution and advisory services, according to a recent […]

The post Chubb launches wealth management platform in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Deutsche Bank will expand its strategic collaboration with DWS in discretionary portfolio management (DPM) as the German lender targets doubling DPM assets within the next three years. Under this collaboration, Deutsche Bank’s portfolio implementation will be supported by DWS’s institutional investment and execution platform. Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank Private Bank will continue to be responsible for the strategic asset allocation, portfolio […]

The post Deutsche Bank deepens DWS tie-up as it targets doubling DPM assets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

KGI has hired an HSBC veteran for a senior role as part of the firm’s latest efforts to strengthen its wealth business. Based in Hong Kong, Aaron Long has been appointed as a managing director for wealth management at KGI, reporting to James Wey, head of international wealth management at KGI, according to a statement on Tuesday. In this role, […]

The post KGI hires HSBC veteran for wealth advisory business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Standard Chartered has hired a long-time Credit Suisse and UBS executive as part of its latest efforts to strengthen its private-client wealth management capabilities. Effective 2 February 2026 and based in Hong Kong, Raza Jafree has taken up the role of global head of private client sales at Standard Chartered, Asian Private Banker has learnt. In this role, Jafree will […]

The post StanChart hires ex-Credit Suisse veteran for global private client role in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When you take time to look properly at India’s wealth industry, every data point startles. Deloitte reckons the industry will hit US$2.3 trillion in assets under management by 2029, up from US$1.1 trillion in 2024. Boston Consulting Group tips the number of millionaires in India to jump 55% over the same period, driven by record initial public offerings and private equity […]

The post India’s wealth boom hits talent crunch as RMs get pricey appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With domestic interest rates at just 1.25% and the SET Index delivering negative returns, Thailand’s wealth managers face a stark choice: offer robust offshore solutions or watch their clients walk. In recent years, amid this struggling domestic market, a wave of strategic alliances has emerged between local banks and global heavyweights such as J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Goldman Sachs […]

The post Offshore solutions or lose clients? Thai private banks tap global managers as slump deepens appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Lombard Odier is betting on local strategic alliances to capture broader wealth management opportunities across Asia, Vincent Magnenat, limited partner and global head of strategic alliances at the Swiss bank, told Asian Private Banker. While international private banks have historically anchored their operations in established hubs such as Singapore and Hong Kong, Magnenat believes the next frontier of growth lies […]

The post ‘Onshorisation’ fuels Lombard Odier’s push into Asia’s wealth frontiers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Michael Benz, former global head of private banking at Standard Chartered, believes a significant “expertise gap” is preventing traditional private banks from capturing Asia’s digital asset boom. Benz, who was appointed in August 2025 to lead AMINA Bank’s regional expansion as head of Hong Kong and Asia Pacific, shared the next steps for AMINA’s Hong Kong strategy with Asian Private […]

The post Ex-StanChart PB global head plots AMINA’s digital asset strategy in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore’s WRISE Group has formed a partnership with Dubai-headquartered The Continental Group to deliver wealth solutions to affluent and HNW clients in the Middle East, according to an announcement on Wednesday. Through the partnership, WRISE Group will combine its digital wealth infrastructure, global product capabilities, and institutional investment access with The Continental Group’s insurance and risk advisory expertise, and onshore […]

The post WRISE taps Dubai partnership to drive Middle East wealth push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from CICC. As the days and months turn, a new year rises with renewed promise. Over the past year, we navigated change and challenge, advancing with resilience and steady progress. The path has not always been smooth.  The trust of our clients, the support of our partners, and the dedication of our colleagues have been […]

The post Together, toward new frontiers of wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Southeast Asia saw sustained growth momentum and benefited from wealth spilling over from different corridors in 2025. As the private banking industry enters a new 2026, APB highlights five private banks to watch in Singapore. Standard Chartered is not done growing While Standard Chartered Private Bank reported a 57% YoY growth in assets under management in APAC in 2024, according […]

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In 2025, North Asia’s private banking sector saw a golden moment amid rising market strength and sanguine sentiment, with Hong Kong supporting wealth creation through its capital markets. As we head into 2026, APB highlights five private banks to watch in Hong Kong. UBS GWM back to growth mode post CS integration Two years after the announcement of its shotgun […]

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DBS Group Holdings’ chief executive officer, Tan Su Shan, is steering Southeast Asia’s largest lender towards becoming an “AI-enabled bank with a heart,” emphasising the value of genuine human experience in private banking even as disruptive technologies reshape the industry. “2026 will be the year that the AI revolution becomes fairly obvious. We’ll have to rethink how we remake our […]

The post “AI-enabled bank with a heart”: DBS CEO on preserving human touch in private banking appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from ICE. The electronification of trading and digitisation of the back office have revolutionised every corner of financial services since the turn of the century. While the benefits have long been recognised from dealer trading desks in Hong Kong to buy-side firms in Singapore, today, nowhere are the fruits of cutting-edge financial technology being enjoyed […]

The post Three financial technologies redefining modern wealth management in APAC appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from Noah Holdings. Noah Holdings’ four-day Global Black Diamond Summit in December at the Londoner Grand hotel in Macau was meticulously executed on an epic scale. It attracted 1,600 HNW clients from Greater China, Asia Pacific and further afield. The big talk was all about transformation: AI as the fifth industrial revolution, the AI-inspired retooling […]

The post Technology, trust and thought leadership: Noah Holdings’ recipe for success in global Chinese wealth management appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite the dramatic capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by US forces, Asia’s private banks are urging UHNW clients to stay the course, dismissing the event as a “localised” shock with minimal impact on global supply chains. In a major escalation on 3 January 2026, US forces launched a military raid in the capital city of Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President […]

The post Venezuela raid or not, private bank CIOs see a clear path to 2026 growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

KGI is targeting US$1 billion in inflows for its recently onboarded Binance Coin-linked fund over the next two to three years as the firm elevates digital assets to a crucial value proposition to court high net worth clients. “Digital assets are becoming an integral part of our broader wealth strategy. They not only attract a new generation of investors but […]

The post Digital assets ‘integral’ to KGI’s wealth strategy as it targets US$1bn inflows appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Standard Chartered has expanded its global chief investment office team with two senior appointments as part of the lender’s effort to strengthen its wealth capabilities. Based in Singapore, Sundeep Gantori has joined the bank as CIO for equities. In this new role, he will lead the CIO equity strategy team and drive the adoption of its equity strategy offering through […]

The post StanChart expands CIO team with senior hires from UBS and J.P.Morgan AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from CMB International. Riding the wave of the times, ushering in a new chapter of wealth management On 17 November 2025, CMB International’s new Private Wealth Management Centre grandly opened in Central, Hong Kong.  As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank, CMB International leverages the strong financial backing and outstanding social reputation of its […]

The post CMB International Wealth Management – ​​Professional competence creates global opportunities appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

From record North Asia flows and the resumption of full-force hiring to digital assets and evergreen funds, Asian Private Banker looks back at the big stories that dominated headlines in 2025. 1. Hong Kong’s comeback: Record North Asia wealth flows Asia’s private banks experienced unprecedented growth in North Asia, with Hong Kong’s wealth industry bouncing back to near pre-pandemic levels, making the city […]

The post APB Wrapped: The top 10 Asia private banking trends in 2025 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private market secondaries manager Coller Capital has opened a new Tokyo office and made a senior appointment for its Japan business, joining a growing number of alternative houses looking to crack private wealth opportunities in the Land of the Rising Sun.  The firm’s new Tokyo office began operations on 12 November 2025. Meanwhile, Hisashi Tanaka has joined the firm as […]

The post Secondaries giant taps Japan’s private wealth market with new office and senior appointment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker is delighted to present Final Word 2025, our year-in-review feature featuring regional heads from wealth management players across APAC. Click here to read Final Word 2025 In this exclusive feature, top executives reflected on what kept them up at night in 2025, covering everything from digital transformation to regulations, and business strategy to investment performance. Below are some […]

The post Final Word: Private banking leaders reflect on strong a 2025, reveal strategies for 2026 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s GROW Investment Group (GROW) is seeking to enhance its digital assets offerings for ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) and families through a collaboration with a Web3 firm. GROW Digital Wealth (GDW), GROW’s Hong Kong-based digital assets platform, has signed an investment term sheet with Animoca Brands, securing strategic funding to build an integrated wealth management platform for both […]

The post Chinese wealth manager GROW secures funding for digital assets push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker has officially opened submissions for the eighth China Wealth Awards (CWA) 2025, recognising excellence in serving China’s ultra and high net worth individuals, their families, and their businesses. This year’s programme has been refreshed to reflect China’s fast-moving wealth management landscape, shaped by an AI-fuelled equity rally, a recovering IPO market, regulatory shifts, evolving client investment appetite, […]

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HSBC Private Bank is working to differentiate its ultra high net worth (UHNW) offering with a specialist team and by opening its own balance sheet deals to clients, hoping to cut through the “One Bank” marketing noise. As part of HSBC’s proposition, the UHNW Solutions Group (USG), established in 2022, is a mix of a client-facing and product specialist team, […]

The post HSBC Private Bank puts skin in the game to court UHNWIs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from CICC. On 31 October 2025, China International Capital Corporation (CICC) successfully held the CICC 2025 Dubai Wealth Management Forum in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Centred on the theme “Invest in China, Invest in Future,” the forum brought together over 200 distinguished guests from various sectors to engage in in-depth discussions on key topics […]

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Dubai-headquartered Klay plans to hire up to 120 staff in Singapore by 2030 to drive an advisory-led expansion that rejects the industry’s standard retrocession fee model. Over the last 13 years, the firm has focused on internal development, establishing platforms, proprietary technology, systems, and product offerings, according to Kalpesh Khakhria, co-founder and group chairman at Klay. “Now is the time […]

The post Klay targets top private banking talent to fuel advisory-led Singapore expansion appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Julius Baer said on Tuesday that it has received final approval to open an advisory office in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, expanding its footprint in the Middle East. The new entity, Julius Baer (Abu Dhabi) Ltd, will open in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). It will be led by Amir Iskander, who joins as its chief executive officer. […]

The post Julius Baer opens Abu Dhabi office in Middle East wealth push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Switzerland’s resounding rejection of an inheritance tax on wealthy residents tells us something far bigger than the outcome of a single referendum. The debate highlighted just how mobile wealthy families have become, and how quickly tax changes can influence where they choose to place assets or even their residency. The plan to charge a 50% tax on inheritances above CHF […]

The post Bottom Line: Swiss inheritance tax rejection shows loyalty is fragile appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS intends to hire more talent in Taiwan, seizing upon regulatory loosening and a semiconductor-fueled tech boom, the Swiss banking giant recently told Asian Private Banker. “We are now taking advantage of all the relaxation that has happened,” Henry Su, Taiwan location head, UBS Global Wealth Management, told APB in a recent interview. Su is referring to the launch of […]

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Billionaires are expecting to live longer than ever before, a UBS report has found, signalling that banks will have to adapt to meet the longer-term wealth-planning and investment goals of the world’s wealthiest people. The combined wealth of global billionaires reached US$15.8 trillion, a 13% increase compared to 12 months ago, according to the UBS Billionaire Ambitions Report 2025, which […]

The post Billionaires expect longer lives and four trends ahead appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Independent wealth manager WRISE is moving to cut brokers out of the equation, with founder Derrick Tan arguing that “middlemen don’t add value” as the firm seeks direct partnerships with global insurers to serve ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients. This “upstream” approach, developed over the last few years, has allowed the firm to fully customise and quickly launch structured […]

The post WRISE’s Derrick Tan: “Middlemen don’t add value” — EAM bypasses brokers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What if the most interesting story in Asian wealth right now isn’t the giant private banks, but the external asset managers (EAM) quietly, or not so quietly, making their mark? In Singapore and Hong Kong, they’re growing in numbers, scaling up their businesses, and extending their reach across markets. Take Singapore, for example. Ten years ago, the independent scene was […]

The post Bottom Line: Rising costs, retrocessions, regulations – and will EAMs consolidate? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private clients have a rapidly narrowing window to rotate out of cash and lock in yields before the Federal Reserve’s “easing bias” erodes income opportunities, according to J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s international chief investment officer, global fixed income, Iain Stealey. “In fixed income at the moment, we see a lot of opportunity. There’s definitely been a shift in sentiment over […]

The post Window to lock in yields closing, says J.P. Morgan AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

One of China’s more prominent brokers in Hong Kong, CICC Wealth Management (CICC WM), has achieved an average 26% CAGR in AUM, the firm told Asian Private Banker. The Chinese securities house attributed its growth momentum to market tailwinds, its strategy of benchmarking its wealth management services against global private banks, and cross-referrals from its investment banking business. “There is […]

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BNP Paribas Wealth Management has collaborated with BNP Paribas Asset Management to roll out a new CIO Strategy Fund, with a target fund size of US$300 million. Launched in Asia in August 2025, the fund is designed to provide clients with streamlined access to the bank’s chief investment office (CIO) views. The French bank exclusively told Asian Private Banker the […]

The post BNP Paribas WM and AM target US$300m for CIO fund collab appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The dynamic in the global external asset management (EAM) business has fundamentally reversed. As Swiss private banks seek to offset decelerating performance in their home market, engines for growth have emerged in European, Middle Eastern and Asian EAM sectors. However, selectivity remains key in choosing EAM partners, Laurent Pellet, limited partner and global head of external asset managers for Lombard […]

The post Lombard Odier looks to global EAM markets as Swiss sector cools appeared first on Asian Private Banker.