Private banks need to put technological solutions at the heart of their operations if they are to meet the demands raised by clients and relationship managers, though there will always be a need for human interaction

Today’s ‘global families’ are no longer simply looking for portfolio management from wealth managers. The modern private bank must adapt to offer a much wider range of services to all members and branches of these increasingly international clans

Much of the talk around the ongoing Brexit process ignores the importance of trade and the myriad benefits of closer relationships with neighbouring countries

Although private banks in Asia remain in expansion mode, most of global institutions are starting to review the efficiency of their operations, both in terms of headcounts and jurisdictions in which they operate 

Citi unseating UBS for top spot in PWM’s annual private banking awards is indicative of a wider trend of US institutions’ increasingly ambitious global plans

Although most believe the London will remain a high profile hub, the appeal of rival centres is growing and banks would rather wait to discover what the future holds before committing to the UK capital 

Only a handful of private banks have truly embraced the realities of the tech revolution, although their chief investment officers have long been targeting the themes which underpin the evolution of a digital society

Private banks may talk a good game about how they are transforming themselves, but most are really only repackaging existing services. A much more significant change is required, in areas such as ESG investing and in the digital arena, if they are to engage with a new generation of clients