«We are Switzerland’s oldest bank – and at the same time a very young bank,» says Christian Bidermann in an interview with finews.com. The institution was founded in 1750 as a silk trading house. Only later did it evolve into a financial enterprise, and today it is one of the last private banks with unlimited liability. «We are fully committed. As partners, we are personally liable with our private assets for the bank’s obligations,» says Bidermann, who has been a partner in the family business since 2001. This creates trust, but also humility: «We approach new business areas in a fundamentally conservative way. If we are not entirely sure, we prefer not to do it.»

From Wealth Management to Holistic Advisory

What was once classic wealth management has become a holistic approach. The focus used to be primarily on investment business. Today, clients are also advised on tax issues, estate planning, or real estate sales. Clients have become more informed and digitally savvy. Yet personal interaction remains central: «Trust in the advisor and the continuity of the relationship are decisive. This was true in the past, and it is still true today.»

Young Wealthy Clients Want More Than Returns

For younger clients as well, the personal connection is indispensable. «They want to be treated as independent personalities, to have a say, and to be taken seriously. Not as the children of so-and-so,» emphasizes Christian Bidermann. Communication today must be fast, direct, and individualized, with clear contact persons instead of endless call center loops.

That Rahn+Bodmer thinks young is also evident internally: «Many visitors are surprised at how many young employees we have. This strongly shapes our culture,» says Bidermann. It is precisely this combination of experience and freshness that makes the institution special.

Reception at Switzerland's oldest private bank (image: zVg)

A Whole Year of Celebrations

275 years – that is more than two centuries of Swiss financial history. The bank is accordingly proud of its anniversary: «We are not celebrating this with a single event, but with a comprehensive concept together with our clients and employees. From January 1 to December 31, we celebrate a piece of our extraordinary past every day.» Yet it is not meant as a museum-like retrospective, but more as a compass: «There is this beautiful saying: The future needs an origin. To move forward, you also need to know where you come from.»

His Favorite Pastime: Sailing

Despite pride in its achievements, the institution is not resting on its laurels or its history. The big goal is to hand the bank over to the next generation in good shape as both partner and entrepreneur. The long-term perspective is more important than fast, short-term success.

Christian Bidermann himself joined Rahn+Bodmer in 1997 after earning a degree in economics at the University of Zurich. In 2001, he succeeded his father, the last of the previous generation. Since 2009, he has also served on the board of the Association of Swiss Private Banks. Privately, he finds balance with his family on the water: «Sailing, not only on Lake Zurich, is one of my greatest passions,» reveals the father of three.

Meeting room for customers (Image: zVg)

The Fall of Credit Suisse

The banker keeps a watchful eye on Switzerland’s financial center. The downfall of Credit Suisse left its mark: «The fact that a bank of this size had to be taken over in an emergency was a shock. Both for Switzerland’s image and for us smaller institutions that depend on the services of large banks.» At the same time, Rahn+Bodmer was able to welcome numerous new clients.

Commitment Beyond Banking

At Rahn+Bodmer, responsibility does not end at the office door. The bank supports, among others, the Center for Neuroscience and its research into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It also supports the international organization Right to Play, which gives disadvantaged children access to education through play.

«For me, responsibility is a lived attitude. And Rahn+Bodmer should carry this attitude into the next 275 years as well,» says Bidermann.