The Czech Republic is proving a new battleground for both European and domestic private banks, and ČSOB’s relationship with Belgium’s KBC means it can compete on both fronts

Clients’ demands have changed, and private banks are being forced to adapt their business models as a result. But will global players or boutiques be the winners in this new era of wealth management, and what does this mean for the Swiss?

The number of wealthy individuals has reached record levels, but private banks must raise their game to match client expectations

Women represent one of the world’s largest banking markets but most banks remain unwilling or unable to service the unique needs of their female customers

Banks must convince clients they can make them money, but not be too brash about it

Christophe Billard, group commercial director at UK-based SGPB Hambros, part of French group Société Générale, talks to Yuri Bender about key trends in wealth management, and explains how private banks need to adapt their service offering to meet clients’ evolving needs

An IRS investigator was looking into offshore credit cards when a whistleblower put him onto the trail of UBS’ activities on US soil. This spiralled into an attack on the secrecy surrounding Swiss banking

Philanthropy has undergone a recent surge, but private banks should develop more innovative solutions to boost its effects and help to draw attention to forgotten causes, believes Lombard Odier’s Karin Jestin