Asian Private Banker honoured the winners of the Technology Awards 2025 at a celebratory event today, recognising the firms driving innovation in the region’s private banking and wealth management space. As wealth management undergoes rapid transformation in Asia, this year’s winners were chosen for their efforts to modernise platforms, reduce operational friction, and prioritise the client experience. With categories such […]

The post Asian Private Banker recognises digital leadership at 2025 Technology Awards appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Imagine an important client representing a substantial family office calls. They want a structured product, a tailored bet on a few shares they follow, built to pay more than cash if those shares hold firm or rise in value. Not so long ago, finding the structured product that matched a client’s precise needs was a headache. An RM might spend […]

The post In structured products, FinIQ wants AI to say “this is the trade” 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.

Having drafted UBS’s first private banking e-business strategy in 2001, Wiwi Gutmannsbauer has witnessed the development of a 25-year strategy that continues to drive the bank’s digital transformation efforts today. “Going to a bank should not be like going to a dentist. It should be an interaction that is convenient, fast, and tailored to what clients really need,” said the […]

The post Agentification and Lego blocks? Inside UBS’s digital transformation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US-headquartered data and AI platform Addepar is stepping up its push into Asia-Pacific, opening a regional headquarters in Marina Bay Financial Centre as it looks to tap rising demand from family offices and asset managers. The firm currently serves around 50 clients in the region, according to CEO Eric Poirier, with its base largely made up of single-family offices and independent asset managers. These […]

The post US data and AI platform opens Singapore hub as family offices drive growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week, we will announce the winners of the 2025 Asian Private Banker Technology Awards, spotlighting the most impactful innovations shaping Asia’s rapidly evolving financial technology landscape. We saw innovation at its most comprehensive, showcasing private banking technology that spans the full client journey, from end-to-end portfolio management to holistic total wealth frameworks, and increasingly, multi-dimensional views of a client’s […]

The post Bottom Line: Honouring wealth tech innovation. Questioning what’s next. 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.

BlackRock will integrate iCapital’s alternative investments technology platform with its Aladdin Wealth, seeking to streamline private-market investing for wealth managers. Under this new partnership, advisors can find alternative offerings on their firm’s product shelf, initiate subscriptions and redemptions, and track status updates alongside portfolio analytics, according to a statement on Thursday. They will benefit from a more streamlined experience that […]

The post BlackRock’s Aladdin partners with iCapital for alts investments appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Structured products specialist Goldhorse Capital has expanded its product suite and service capabilities for external asset managers (EAMs) amid rising competition to win over this booming segment. The Hong Kong-headquartered firm has integrated its affiliated securities business, Goldhorse Securities, into a unified operating framework, according to a statement on Tuesday. By unifying its businesses, Goldhorse Capital has expanded its product […]

The post Hong Kong’s Goldhorse Capital revamps business to boost EAM offerings appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

French private equity firm Ardian has deepened its presence in Asia Pacific’s private wealth space through a collaboration with fintech firm S64. Under the new partnership, the firms will launch the S64 Ardian Access Infrastructure Fund, an evergreen Australian Unit Trust, to provide Australia’s wealth management industry with access to Ardian’s infrastructure strategies, according to an announcement on Friday. The […]

The post Ardian unlocks infrastructure access for Australian private wealth in S64 tie-up appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

J.P. Morgan Private Bank has revealed that over 60% of its APAC advisers now regularly use internal AI tools, while client engagement has surged fivefold as the firm pivoted from generic LLMs to deeply embedded, proprietary data workflows. “Whenever I approach something initially, it’s never about technology first. It’s always about: What’s the business problem, opportunity and how to drive […]

The post Rethinking outreach? J.P. Morgan PB sees 5x engagement jump with AI appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Revo Digital Family Office (REVO DFO) has received regulatory approval to offer regulated investment advice and portfolio management services in Hong Kong, and will integrate digital asset services into traditional portfolio mandates. Revo FDO has obtained a Type 4 licence, allowing it to provide investment advice and research to clients regarding securities, and a Type 9 licence, allowing it to […]

The post Raffles Family Office’s crypto MFO gets green light in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

External asset managers (EAMs) have seen a meteoric rise in Hong Kong and Singapore, yet this growth is being undermined by back-office friction. According to industry experts, persistent data and operational challenges now threaten the scalability and service standards these firms need to stay ahead of rising competition. James Dellborg, associate partner for banking at management consulting company Synpulse, believes […]

The post Asia’s “hungry” EAMs in offensive M&A mode to leapfrog rivals 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.

While much of the world debates whether artificial intelligence will replace jobs, Singapore has recently focused on who bears the cost when work is disrupted. The recent decision by DBS, OCBC, and UOB to retrain 35,000 local banking employees is not just a workforce initiative — it is a statement of commitment. AI will inevitably change finance, but does it […]

The post Bottom Line: Is AI treated as a technology problem rather than a talent one? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wealth clients have significantly increased their adoption of systematic strategies over the past decade, driven by the hunt for alpha, the rise of active ETFs, and the ability of strategies to leverage new data sources, according to BlackRock’s Adam Riley. “Historically, systematic investors had a mile of breadth but only an inch of depth. Today, with the technologies available, we […]

The post “Major increase” in use of systematic strategies in wealth portfolios: BlackRock  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

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.

Private banks in Asia have been encouraging clients to increase allocations to alternative investments. However, one very familiar hurdle continues to dog client conversations: illiquidity. Alts tech firm iCapital believes it may have a solution with the introduction of a secondary market to allow investors to exit their positions. The firm’s Marco Bizzozero told Asian Private Banker more. “With a […]

The post A proper exit? iCapital brings secondaries to private wealth to unlock liquidity 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.

UBS has extended its wealth technology capabilities to one of Taiwan’s leading securities firms, marking the Swiss bank’s latest move to capture rising opportunities in the market amid supportive regulatory reforms. UBS has partnered with KGI Securities to launch 凱富RichLife, a financial planning platform powered by UBS Partner, its wealth management technology, the firm said on Wednesday. 凱富RichLife enables KGI’s […]

The post UBS brings technology know-how to Taiwan with KGI tie-up appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving rapidly up the private-banking agenda in Asia, reshaping how banks engage clients, support relationship managers (RMs), and run core investment and risk processes. What began as pilot experimentation with automation and natural-language tools is now becoming integral to advisory models from Singapore to Hong Kong, driven by rising client expectations and intensifying regional competition. Standard […]

The post Private banks take AI live — Julius Baer shows how it’s done appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Imagine a highly reliable group of employees capable of meticulously sifting through thousands of pages of financial statements and data sets, all while spotting news trends such as sustainability claims, executive moves, social media chatter, fund flows, and then suggesting calculated trades on a whim – not just for one company, but for tens of thousands of organisations across different […]

The post AI gives quant the edge, but can it replace human judgement? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from MSCI. As clients demand more personalisation and portfolios become increasingly multifaceted, wealth managers across Asia Pacific are evolving. Hassan Suffyan, head of wealth for APAC & EMEA at MSCI, shares how firms are balancing the discipline of house views within both advisory and discretionary portfolios while adapting to a new era of client personalisation. […]

The post The model portfolio dilemma: Aligning house views with client reality – A Q&A with MSCI appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

“Artificial intelligence (AI) represents something larger than compliance efficiency — it’s about redefining what’s possible in banking,” Kelvin Chiang, head of platform and analytics, financial crime compliance, Bank of Singapore, told Asian Private Banker. His comments come as Singapore’s wealth management industry continues to rebuild trust after a S$3 billion money-laundering scandal two years ago. As the Monetary Authority of […]

The post AI steps in as private banking’s new compliance watchdog appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The wealth industry’s rush into artificial intelligence (AI) is already rapidly moving beyond basic efficiency tools and into more complex portfolio advisory tasks, as implementation becomes a top-tier operational priority. But has anyone stopped to ask an obvious question: How will banks differentiate their advice if every advisor in the city relies on the same or similar machine-driven insights? DBS […]

The post Citi, DBS, Leo Wealth warn of AI-driven portfolio homogenisation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The wait-and-see era is officially over. More than half (52%) of Hong Kong’s private wealth management firms are now actively investing in, or planning to invest in, virtual assets, a monumental shift that coincides with a 15% year-on-year surge in industry AUM. However, the nightmare of duplicating custody systems in Hong Kong, along with other regulatory hurdles, continues to create […]

The post Hong Kong private banks double down on digital assets as confidence soars appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The US stock market has delivered three consecutive years of exceptional gains, a feat not achieved since the dotcom era, leaving some to wonder, can the party last? According to UOB Private Bank (UOB PB), there is still some way to go, with the Singaporean private bank upgrading equities from neutral to overweight for the fourth quarter. A combination of […]

The post Is the party over for US equities? UOB Private Bank thinks not appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Well-known for its integration with historic rival Credit Suisse, UBS is going for another round of integration—this time, for its mobile banking applications. UBS has integrated two key mobile platforms as part of its ongoing digital transformation efforts, merging UBS Mobile Banking and Circle One by UBS into a single app that combines market insights, expert access, and trading capabilities, […]

The post UBS powers up digital transformation with mobile merge appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Digital wealth platform Endowus has closed its latest fundraising round, raising over HK$540 million (US$70 million), the firm said on Wednesday. The equity round is led by London-based venture capital firm Illuminate Financial, with participation from key existing investors, Citi Ventures, Prosus Ventures and leading Asian family offices, according to a company release on Wednesday. The equity round has added […]

The post Asian family offices fuel Endowus’s latest US$70m fundraising as AUM tops US$10bn appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

If there’s one area that warrants more attention right now, it’s robotics. This sector, Daegal Tsang tells Asian Private Banker, is likely to see continued and perhaps even accelerated growth in the near future to meet ever-increasing demand. While many may be quick to claim that the AI tech rally plateaued long ago, Tsang believes that much of the modern […]

The post Pictet sees robotics as the next frontier for Asian investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore has launched an agentic artificial intelligence (AI) tool to overhaul a key part of its client due diligence process. The technology automates the know your customer (KYC) due diligence process required to confirm the legitimacy of clients’ assets and financial history, the firm said in a release on Friday. Dubbed the Source of Wealth Assistant (SOWA), the […]

The post Bank of Singapore deploys agentic AI for faster source of wealth checks appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week, UBS showcased its digital initiatives and capabilities through its AI & Transformation Factory in Singapore—the firm’s largest and first of its kind globally. The event was attended by Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo. The factory is designed to accelerate digital transformation and foster innovation through cross-functional collaboration. According to UBS, the initiative underscores its […]

The post Inside UBS’s AI transformation playbook appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

MarketAxess has rolled out a new solution aimed at tackling the challenges private banking relationship managers (RMs) face when trading fixed income, with the launch of Axess IQ Connect, a web-based application providing real-time market insights. Accessible on any device, the platform is designed to link client advisers directly to their trading desks. It builds on Axess IQ, MarketAxess’ execution […]

The post Bond trading platform launches AI-driven fixed income tool for RMs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

DBS has partnered with Franklin Templeton and Ripple to offer accredited and institutional investors trading and lending solutions using a tokenised money market fund and stablecoin. Through the partnership, DBS Digital Exchange will list sgBENJI, the token of Franklin Templeton’s tokenised money market fund, alongside Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, according to a statement on Thursday. Eligible DBS clients can trade RLUSD […]

The post DBS partners with Franklin Templeton and Ripple for tokenised trading and lending solutions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

HSBC Global Private Banking (HSBC GPB) has launched a generative AI-powered ecosystem in a bid to help its wealth management staff enhance client experience. Client-facing staff members, investment counsellors and product specialists will be able to leverage the bank’s new Wealth Intelligence ecosystem to provide clients with market insights and personalised investment strategies, according to a statement on Tuesday. “Client […]

The post HSBC GPB launches GenAI-powered ecosystem for wealth staff appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

It’s money, but you can’t touch it. It lives everywhere, yet nowhere. It moves across borders without passports. It’s mined, but not from the earth. Cryptocurrency is making waves in the wealth space, reshaping how fortunes are built, stored, and moved in the digital age. This is not the usual crypto post about prices, Trump tweets, or market hype. It’s […]

The post Bottom Line: Wealthy can’t ignore crypto – nor can private banks appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Alternatives fintech S64 has expanded its Asia distribution team to bolster its presence in the region. Based in Singapore, Hui Xin Tay will be joining S64’s Asia distribution team, the firm announced in a statement on Tuesday. In her new mandate, Tay will deepen S64’s relationship with private banks, wealth managers, asset managers, and private markets general partners across Asia. […]

The post Alts fintech taps Goldman veteran to boost Asia distribution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Endowus. Endowus is leading innovation to bring private market investments to a wider pool of investors in Hong Kong and Singapore. Just half a decade ago, private wealth solutions were exclusively available only to the ultra wealthy, those with investable assets of US$5 million or more, and large institutions such as family offices, sovereign […]

The post Bridging the gap: Elevating standards in private wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong’s Stablecoins Ordinance was enacted on August 1, 2025. Asian Private Banker examines the reasons behind Hong Kong’s adoption of this emerging digital asset class. The new ordinance, which follows the Stablecoins Bill passed earlier this year, establishes a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers. According to a recent Morgan Stanley report, these measures are expected to attract credible […]

The post What’s behind Hong Kong’s new stablecoins regime? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Once cautious about digital assets, private banks in Asia are now inching towards crypto exposure, with several institutions in the region preparing to onboard their first crypto-linked products, Asian Private Banker has learnt. “While crypto markets move fast, distributors like private banks have been cautious to access and reference this asset class. But we see the mindset starting to change,” […]

The post Private banks warm up to crypto with structured products appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A Hong Kong private banking veteran has joined a digital assets-focused wealth management firm, as ultra/high net worth individuals (U/HNWIs) and families show a growing appetite for this booming asset class. Effective 1 August 2025, Monique Chan was appointed as chief executive officer of LSQ Capital, a Hong Kong-based subsidiary of Metalpha, according to a statement on Friday. The firm […]

The post Hong Kong private banking heavyweight joins digital asset wealth firm as CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Taiwan’s Cathay United Bank (CUB) is leveraging the technology expertise of Avaloq to enhance operational efficiency and deliver tailored solutions to high-net-worth clients in its latest wealth push at the new asset management hub in Kaohsiung City. CUB is working closely with Avaloq to establish a new booking centre and operational base in Kaohsiung, aiming to deliver tailored private banking […]

The post Cathay United Bank taps Avaloq for Kaohsiung wealth push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Kasikornbank (KBank) Private Banking in Thailand has launched a new digital front-end platform to support its relationship managers (RMs) and financial advisors, marking a major step in its digital transformation journey. Developed and based on Synpulse8’s Wealth Cockpit, the new platform was rolled out after an eight-month implementation period from April to December 2024. It integrates multiple RM tools into […]

The post Thailand’s KBank Private Banking launches new tool for RMs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pure-play private bank LGT and alts fintech iCapital have entered into a strategic partnership, the firms said on Wednesday. Through this partnership, iCapital and LGT have launched a new technology platform to digitise the lifecycle of LGT’s alternative investment offerings. The new platform will be integrated into LGT’s banking systems, providing relationship managers, investment advisors, and operations teams with an […]

The post LGT partners iCapital to digitise alts offerings appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

(I’m no guru, but these trade offs definitely have me scratching my head.) Asia’s private banking sector is undergoing a tech-driven transformation, and this year’s innovators are showing what’s possible when digital tools are used with intent. From automation to AI, the focus is shifting from back office upgrades to frontline impact. There are real gains, apparently. Clients enjoy faster […]

The post Bottom Line: AI, automation, and a few awkward questions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As Asia’s single-family offices (SFOs) embrace digital transformation, their top concern isn’t portfolio returns – it’s protection. A growing number of SFOs in the region, particularly in wealth hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, are prioritising cybersecurity and risk controls as they modernise their operations, according to a recent industry report. The findings from Deloitte Private’s Family Office Insights Series: […]

The post Asia’s single-family offices put security first in digital push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker proudly honoured the winners of the Technology Awards 2024 at a celebratory event on Tuesday, recognising the firms reshaping private banking through innovation and digital leadership. Against a backdrop of rapid transformation in Asia’s wealth management industry, this year’s winners stood out for their ability to harness technology to enhance client experience, streamline operations, and future-proof their […]

The post Celebrating innovation at the Asian Private Banker Technology Awards 2024 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The former CEO for HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth has resurfaced at wealth tech company Allfunds six months after departing the UK lender. Annabel Spring will become CEO for Allfunds, succeeding Juan Alcaraz, CEO and founder, according to a statement from the firm. Australia native Spring, former CEO of HSBC GPB and Wealth, left the UK bank in December […]

The post Ex-HSBC GPB CEO resurfaces at wealth tech platform appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-headquartered digital wealth platform Syfe raised US$80 million in its Series C fundraising, marking another milestone for the firm as it seeks to expand across Asia Pacific. This round of fundraising included a new all-equity C2 of US$53 million at a significantly increased valuation, and a C1 raise of US$27 million in August 2024. It brings Syfe’s total funding to […]

The post UK family offices lead Syfe’s US$80m Series C fundraising appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Global private asset managers and alternatives-focused technology providers have been ramping up their efforts to capture private wealth in Australia. The latest such example is the tie-up between UK-headquartered fintech firm S64 and Aussie investment platform DASH. The duo recently inked a partnership to improve access to private market investments for financial advisory firms and their clients across Australia, according […]

The post S64 partners with DASH as alts firms target wealth Down Under appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Digital wealth platform Arta Finance has entered into a strategic partnership with Income Advisory Financial Advisers (IAFA) in Singapore to bring alts and other investment opportunities to the latter’s clients, according to a company statement on Tuesday. Under the agreement, accredited investor clients of IAFA will have access to private markets, structured products, and other investment opportunities that are typically […]

The post Arta Finance partners with Singaporean advisory firm to bring alts opportunities to clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Dedicated EAM services have proven a tough nut to crack for private banks in Asia, with several banks scaling back in this area in recent years, including the likes of HSBC Global Private Banking and J.P. Morgan. But into this void have stepped a number of different regional players, from wealthtech platforms to securities firms, which believe their faster account […]

The post Move over private banks? Brokers, wealthtechs capture EAM business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Citi will sell the part of its wealth business responsible for distributing alternatives solutions to fintech firm iCapital, in the latest example of how the Wall Street giant is consolidating its business. New York-based iCapital said in a statement that it was acquiring Citi Global Alternatives, the advisor to Citi Wealth’s global alternative investment fund platform. With the purchase, of […]

The post Citi sells wealth alternatives platform to iCapital appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

New technological developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to change life for private banking relationship managers (RMs), according to a leading consultant. While many private banks are already using AI, its application has been relatively limited, predominantly using large language models (LLMs) for tasks such as reading and summarising documents. While this works really well for simple applications, […]

The post “Big breakthrough” in AI could radically change how RMs work appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong digital asset firm OSL Wealth has teamed up with a Dubai-based fund house to target high net worth individuals (HNWI) and family offices in Asia with crypto hedge fund strategies. Through the collaboration, OSL Wealth will offer qualified investors access to the USD Market Neutral Fund and BTC Market Neutral Fund by Nine Blocks Capital Management, a statement […]

The post Hong Kong’s OSL Wealth targets U/HNWIs with crypto hedge fund appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Digital asset firms in Hong Kong are making their latest push into the private wealth space with increasingly sophisticated solutions, industry experts told Asian Private Banker. “There’s more interest from high net worth individuals (HNWIs) over the past six to twelve months. Meanwhile, a lot of family offices have been opening their arms for digital assets,” said Vivien Wong, partner, […]

The post Hong Kong’s digital asset firms target HNWIs with innovative wealth solutions appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As donors embrace collaborative and data-driven approaches to philanthropy, BNP Paribas Wealth Management points to technology as a key enabler of transparency, cost-efficiency, and impact. Digital platforms and blockchain technology are enabling greater transparency and traceability in funding, empowering donors to see exactly how their contributions are being utilised and ensuring accountability, shared Mae Anderson, head of philanthropy service for […]

The post Impactful Actions – Tech trims the busywork, not the impact: BNP Paribas WM’s Asia philanthropy head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Macquarie Asset Management (Macquarie AM) has teamed up with alternatives-focused fintech S64 to distribute an evergreen solution to wealth managers in Asia Pacific. The energy transition infrastructure strategy by Macquarie AM targets investments in technologies that support the global energy transition. It focuses on building, developing, and operating companies in the energy transition sector, primarily within OECD countries, according to […]

The post Macquarie AM eyes Asian wealth with S64 tie-up appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Alternative asset manager Ares Management Corporation (Ares) has joined the Allfunds Private Partners (APP) programme as it seeks to broaden its distribution in the wealth space. Through the partnership, Ares will use Allfunds’ technology, distribution network and personnel to make its investment products accessible to a wider global base of individual investors, including those in Asia. Ares Wealth Management Solutions […]

The post Ares ties up with Allfunds to boost private markets distribution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker is proud to unveil the 2025 edition of our annual COO Focus, gathering the latest views of regional private bank operational chiefs on everything from compliance costs, to artificial intelligence and the latest work-from-home trends. The flagship project gathers analysis and opinions from all of the COOs as Asia’s leading wealth players on how they are strategising […]

The post Revealed: What’s keeping private bank COOs up at night appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Warren Buffett famously said: “Only when the tide goes out do you see who’s been skinny-dipping”. Chocolate Finance would do well to listen to the world’s most famous investor, after the Singapore-based wealthtech’s missing underwear was exposed over the last few days. The start-up, which Asian Private Banker profiled last year, targets mass affluent clients whose spare cash it invests […]

The post Bottom Line: Chocolate Finance’s sticky situation appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The client onboarding process is crucial for private banks but often complex and time-sensitive, requiring them to balance regulations, risk assessments, and operations while ensuring a smooth client experience. With growing digital adoption, financial institutions are integrating automation and hybrid models to enhance efficiency and reduce manual intervention. But how effective are these strategies in practice and what does it […]

The post BoS and UOB PB COOs modernising client onboarding for the future appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In 2024, Bank of Singapore set out to redefine its investment approach with the launch of CIO 2.0, a strategy focused on strengthening portfolio management. A key component is its adoption of BlackRock’s Aladdin platform, which enhances transparency, risk management, and the overall client experience. Asian Private Banker spoke with the bank’s global CIO Jean Chia and James Verner, head […]

The post How BlackRock powers Bank of Singapore’s CIO 2.0 vision appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong’s securities regulator has unveiled a roadmap for its ambitious goal of developing the the city into a global virtual asset hub. Digital asset executives speaking to Asian Private Banker have welcomed developments including plans for establishing a licencing regime for over-the-counter trading (OTC) and custody services. The roadmap announced by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) “will […]

The post Hong Kong unveils grand plan for crypto: Will it work? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Once dominated by institutional giants pouring in billions of dollars, private markets are now a prime playground for high net worth (HNW) investors, thanks in part to technology revolutionising access, according to Endowus. Technology has made private markets distribution easier and cheaper, making wealth management more accessible and, some argue, competing with private banks. Digital platforms are expanding access to […]

The post Private markets are not just for the ultra rich: Endowus CIO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Outperforming rivals like ChatGPT at lower cost, China’s DeepSeek R1 challenged assumptions about not only the dominance of US tech firms in the booming artificial intelligence (AI) space – but also their equity valuations. That realisation has wiped hundreds of billions of dollars off the US stock market over the past week as investors priced in a future with lower […]

The post DeepSeek: More evolution than revolution? CIOs weigh in appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Raffles Family Office is betting big on digital assets, offering its own specialised services for wealthy families in Asia in contrast to the hesitation among private banks after a series of blowouts in the industry. Noticing rising digital asset enquiries, along with client concerns about asset security and the cost of buying crypto on other platforms, Raffles set up a […]

The post Digital family office takes crypto lead as private banks hesitate appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Nomura International Wealth Management (IWM) has hired Deutsche Bank Private Bank’s COO for emerging markets, according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker. Sudhir Nemali joined the bank on Friday as managing director and COO of International Wealth Management. Reporting to Aleem Jivraj, COO for Global Markets and Ravi Raju, head of International Wealth Management for Nomura, Nemali […]

The post Nomura IWM hires Deutsche Bank Private Bank COO in APAC appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong’s private banks are hesitant to develop their digital assets offerings and risk losing out to fintechs, industry experts told Asian Private Banker. Hong Kong’s Private Wealth Management Association (PWMA) recently surveyed its member firms, which include UBS, HSBC and DBS, among others, and found that they have less than 5% of their assets under management (AUM) exposed to […]

The post Hong Kong’s private banks risk missing out on digital assets boom appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Digital wealth platform Endowus has expanded its private asset offerings through a partnership with HPS Investment Partners (HPS), as the Asia-focused firm seeks to increase its penetration with U/HNW clientele. Endowus Private Wealth clients in Hong Kong and Singapore will have early access to HPS’s evergreen private credit solution, the firm said on Tuesday. The tie-up further broadens the list […]

The post Endowus onboards HPS private credit fund in latest HNW push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Caesar Sengupta is no stranger to the disruptive power of technology after leading Google’s mobile payments division. Now, the former general manager of the US tech giant is seeking to democratise wealth management with the launch of Arta Finance in Singapore. “As we were rising through Google, we realised there are these ‘financial superpowers’ that the ultra-wealthy have,” Caesar, the […]

The post Former Google exec plans to democratise wealth management with AI appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Technology proliferation continues to obstruct the work of wealth managers in Hong Kong, a new industry report has found. Nearly half (47%) of wealth managers in Hong Kong identified difficulty in accessing existing client data as a strong or very strong barrier in their daily work, according to a recent survey by tech firm Avaloq. This is up slightly from […]

The post Tech sprawl plagues Hong Kong’s wealth managers – report appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bringing together two banking giants on the scale of UBS and Credit Suisse is no small feat. With 3,000 applications, 110 petabytes of data, 100,000 servers, and 16 data centres being integrated, Asian Private Banker sat down with UBS’s group chief operations and technology officer to discuss what is said to be the largest banking merger since 2008. Client migrations […]

The post “110 petabytes, 100,000 servers”: The Herculean digital effort to merge UBS and Credit Suisse appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Alts fintech S64 and €963 billion AUM asset manager DWS have expanded their partnership with the launch of a sustainable infrastructure-focused wholesale Australian unit trust. In 2023, the two firms collaborated to launch a sustainable infrastructure offering for wealth managers in EMEA & APAC. Through the new wholesale Australian unit trust, access is now extended to wealth managers in Australia, […]

The post S64, DWS expand wealth solutions partnership to Australia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With artificial intelligence (AI) adoption rapidly becoming a cornerstone of business strategy, particularly in the US, UBS explains how to best tap this exploding opportunity. AI adoption continues to broaden, with 5.9% of 1.2 million tracked companies in the US using AI as of 3Q24 compared to just 3.7% in 3Q23, UBS Global Wealth Management chief investment office (UBS GWM […]

The post “Tech theme of the decade” – UBS reveals how to tap booming AI opportunity appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

German asset manager DWS, with EUR 963 billion under management, has launched a cryptocurrency investment product and is planning to roll out a stablecoin next year. Once live, the team is looking to list the stablecoin on Asian crypto exchanges. Speaking to Asian Private Banker during his recent trip to Singapore, Alexander Bechtel, head of digital product strategy, said: “It […]

The post “It’s been a journey for us”: How DWS is charging up its crypto game appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Alts fintech iCapital has entered into a strategic partnership with outsourced investor relations firm MPW Capital Advisors (MPW) to amplify its growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), iCapital said in a statement on Monday. Under the partnership, iCapital hopes to accelerate the distribution of iCapital Marketplace in the GCC region through MPW, offering private equity, private credit, hedge funds, […]

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After spending over 25 years in wealth management, Dominique Jooris chose a new path by founding tech solution WMCockpit. The intention was not to establish another independent firm, but to introduce a transformative tool for advisors. Designed as a platform to help wealth managers engage clients in holistic conversations, the former CEO of Pictet Wealth Manager South Asia and Bank […]

The post Ex-Pictet CEO develops “next frontier” wealth tool appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore has launched an alternative investments digital platform dedicated to independent asset managers (IAMs) in collaboration with global fintech firm iCapital. The new platform, FIM Alternatives Select, will offer close to 30 funds from asset managers such as KKR, The Carlyle Group and Apollo to the bank’s financial intermediary (FIM) partners, with more funds to be added in […]

The post Bank of Singapore broadens alts access for IAMs with iCapital tie-up appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As private banks work to boost assets under management (AUM) through enhanced client experiences, one question is: are they effectively using technology to create a ‘Netflix-like’ investment experience, or is there still a long way to go? Asian Private Banker spoke with James Verner, head of Aladdin Wealth Tech APAC at BlackRock, to discuss the current landscape. Aladdin Wealth serves […]

The post Private banks have “long way to go” to match Netflix experience: BlackRock Aladdin Wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Citi has seen a marked increase in HNW clients using its digital wealth platform in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the Wall Street lender has taken steps in recent months to restructure this client segment within its private bank. Digitally active HNW clients in Hong Kong have grown by 85% since 2019, Citi said at a recent media briefing. More than 90% […]

The post Citi pushes digital future for HNW clients in Hong Kong amid banker exits appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Arta Finance, a digital wealth platform backed by former Google and Mastercard executives, has appointed the ex group CEO of UBS as an external advisor as it seeks to join Singapore’s wealth boom. Ralph Hamers has joined Arta as an external senior advisor, providing strategic guidance as the company grows internationally, according to a company statement. Hamers previously served as […]

The post Ex UBS CEO joins digital wealth player eyeing Singapore market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Alternatives fintech firm S64 has expanded its partnership with private equity firm Hg to distribute the latter’s flagship fund to Australia’s wealth industry, Asian Private Banker can first reveal. The agreement comes amid increasing interest in private market opportunities among Asia Pacific’s family offices and private wealth clients. Building on the duo’s existing partnership established in 2023, Hg’s flagship software and […]

The post Hg partners with alts tech S64 to tap Australian wealth market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore’s Chocolate Finance is looking to change the game for affluent spare cash with an offering which provides stable returns backed by underlying investments in short-term corporate bonds. With an array of wealth techs targeting the affluent and HNW segment with a plethora of investment options, is Chocolate’s offering sweet enough in this tightly competitive market? The offering targets a […]

The post Is Chocolate Finance the sweet spot for affluent cash? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US$3.4 billion digital private equity firm Moonfare has named a new head for Asia Pacific. Based in Singapore, Adam Banks has been appointed as Asia Pacific head and will steer the firm’s development in the region, the firm said in a statement on Wednesday. Previously, Kit Toh served as the firm’s APAC head. Banks joined from Blackstone where he was a […]

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Singapore-based digital wealth manager StashAway is targeting high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the expansion of its private markets offering to the region. The offering, StashAway Reserve, which was previously only available in Singapore and Hong Kong, now provides clients in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with access to wealth advisory and […]

The post StashAway targets HNWIs in UAE with private market offerings appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Digital wealth platforms are expanding services in Hong Kong in an effort to grab an even greater share of the mass affluent and high net worth (HNW) market, believing private banks are failing to serve these segments effectively. Several digital wealth tech firms speaking to Asia Private Banker believed frequent changes in relationship managers (RMs), poor digital experiences, and unsuitable […]

The post BEWARE: Hong Kong private bankers – these wealth techs want to eat your lunch appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Global fintech firm iCapital announced on Monday that it is providing its technology to HSBC Global Private Banking (HSBC GPB) in Hong Kong and Singapore. iCapital’s end-to-end enterprise solution will be fully integrated into HSBC GPB’s platform to digitalise the private market investment experience for its relationship managers, investment counsellors, operations teams, as well as its clients. The solution will […]

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Alternatives asset manager Blue Owl Capital has launched a new digital private markets platform targeting financial advisors and their clients. The new platform, The Nest, looks to be a comprehensive destination to learn, implement, and engage with private markets through the firm’s private wealth team, according to a news release on Thursday. The platform allows users to explore educational webinars […]

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Singapore’s Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme (PTIS), which seeks to incentivise single-family offices (SFOs) to commit capital to charitable causes, has seen sluggish demand since opening at the start of the year. Meanwhile, Hong Kong is playing catch-up to Singapore when it comes to AI governance but has recently launched a generative AI (Gen AI) sandbox to bolster adoption of this […]

The post Singapore’s SFO philanthropy scheme starts slow; Hong Kong AI governance playing catch-up appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from ICE. Asia Pacific is a rising powerhouse, accounting for ~42% (or US$218 trillion) of total global wealth1. To cater to a rapidly growing population of ultra high net worth investors, more than one-third (40%) of Asia Pacific family offices were launched in the last decade alone, according to Capgemini2. Hong Kong and Singapore are […]

The post How wealth managers and private banks can meet the needs of Asia-Pacific investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

High-volume businesses with large client bases appear to immediately benefit from implementing generative AI to improve efficiency and reduce costs. However, it is less certain whether private banks, often with unstructured data and a need for bespoke face-to-face services, can justify the return on investment (ROI) at this stage, industry experts told Asian Private Banker. Compared to retail and commercial […]

The post Generative AI: More hype than opportunity for private banks? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A number of asset managers in Hong Kong have joined a newly launched tokenisation sandbox designed to accelerate the adoption of tokenisation within the financial sector. Firms including BlackRock, BOCHK Asset Management, China Asset Management (Hong Kong), CSOP Asset Management, and Franklin Templeton have joined the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Project Ensemble Sandbox. The HKMA said in a press […]

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Digital asset player HashKey Group is taking a leaf out of the private banking playbook to model its wealth business as a “private bank for the crypto industry.” HashKey Wealth, a subsidiary of Hashkey Group, started business in the fourth quarter of last year. The firm attracted around 120 professional investors in 1H24, and it is aiming for about 250 […]

The post Does Asia need a ‘private bank for crypto’? HashKey thinks so appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While private market investments were once primarily the domain of institutional investors, the space is undergoing rapid disruption in Asia Pacific as fintech platforms continue to expand aggressively to distribute private market offerings to the region’s wealth industry. Among those looking to dominate the space is global fintech firm iCapital, which recently hired Goldman Sachs veteran Tuan Lam to head […]

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Hong Kong’s struggling virtual banks – none of which have achieved profitability – have nevertheless made some progress in wealth management account opening and growing AUM. The total number of wealth management accounts at virtual banks grew by more than 140% in 2023, according to a recent survey by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Moreover, the total market value of clients’ […]

The post A glimmer of hope? Hong Kong’s struggling virtual banks gain traction in wealth management appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Global fintech firm Broadridge Financial Solutions has appointed a new president for Asia Pacific as it seeks to strengthen its business among wealth managers and asset managers in the region. Based in Tokyo, David Runacres will spearhead Broadridge’s APAC regional operations in this newly created position, the firm said in a statement on Thursday. He will also assume the role […]

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Global fintech iCapital has made two senior appointments to strengthen its leadership in Asia Pacific (APAC) and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) as part of the firm’s global expansion efforts. Based in Hong Kong, Tuan Lam will join the alternatives-focused firm as head of APAC. He will lead and strengthen iCapital’s growth and business development activities across the region, […]

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Singapore and Hong Kong are accelerating their efforts to create a stable regulatory environment for digital assets, as these investments increasingly come onto the radar for private wealth clients and family offices. While the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is continuing to pursue industry collaboration to support asset tokenisation, time is up for unlicensed virtual asset trading platforms in Hong […]

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