Private Banks

Degroof Petercam, once a pillar of Belgian finance, has now been fully absorbed into the Indosuez group in Luxembourg, marking the end of its independent operations in the Grand Duchy.

Can private clients still trust that their bank’s advice is objective when that bank also owns a stake in the fund house behind the recommended products? The question is becoming more pressing across Europe, including Luxembourg, where private banks and fund distributors sit at the crossroads of European asset flows.

While digitalisation offers efficiency and scalability, it cannot replace the trust and personalisation that high-net-worth clients expect from their private banks and wealth managers. Investment Officer’s Raymond Frenken reports from The Banking Scene event in Luxembourg.

2024 was a year of further consolidation in the Belgian private banking market. Many are eager to see what room for manoeuvre Degroof Petercam will have under its new French owner, Indosuez.

Luxembourg-based Intesa Sanpaolo Wealth Management is positioning itself to lead the charge into a new era of digital private banking.

Luxembourg’s private banks are falling short in their digitalisation journey, despite recognising its strategic importance, according to a new survey conducted by KPMG in collaboration with the ABBL.

ING Luxembourg is transferring approximately 18,000 retail clients with basic daily banking needs to BGL BNP Paribas.

No less than four of the five wealthiest municipalities in Belgium are located in the Province of Luxembourg, which borders the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. This Belgian province—particularly its border areas—has been identified as an attractive growth market by private bankers and wealth advisors.

While one active ETF after another enters the market, various Dutch banks have yet to add these to their offerings, and pension funds are still adopting a wait-and-see approach. The added value compared to other passive strategies has yet to be proven, particularly in the form of a track record.

Quintet Private Bank announced on Thursday the launch of its Luxembourg-based Finnish desk by building a new team that crossed over from competitor Union Bancaire Privée.