Julius Bär Group: Best Private Bank Switzerland 2014

Managing the assets of private clients across the globe, Julius Bär Group maintains offices in over twenty countries with an emphasis on Europe and Asia – the bank’s two home markets. The Julius Bär Group, one of the world’s oldest and largest private banks, has embarked on a significant expansion project. In July 2014, the group acquired the private banking division of Israel’s Bank Leumi. Earlier in the year, the venerable Swiss bank also upped its stake in the Brazilian private bank GPS Investimentos e Participações to 80%.

The Julius Bär Group has also trained its sight on the Middle East. The bank recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its landing at the Dubai International Financial Centre and is now working hard to offer clients a full suite of Sharia-compliant products and services.

Julius Bär CEO Boris Collardi suggested that the changing economics of private banking may result in additional acquisitions. In a recent interview, Mr Collardi explained that regulatory costs are on the increase and while market and risk appetites of clients have been subdued: “Margins are now lower and that leads to consolidation.”

The CFI.co Judging Panel has nothing but praise for Mr Collardi’s management of the Julius Bär Group. He initiated a somewhat overdue revamp of the bank’s ageing IT systems and also stylishly implemented a process of growth that has kept the bank well ahead of the market curve.

In his five years at the helm of the Julius Bär Group, Mr Collardi has increased the volume of assets under management by a solid 85% to over $282bn in 2014. The CFI.co judges congratulate the bank on its enduring success and are pleased to name Julius Bär Group, for a third consecutive year, Best Private Bank Switzerland.