The awards are based on a data-driven, academic study conducted by Christoph «Chris» Künzle, lecturer and founder of Fin21, who has now presented the Wealth Management Study for the fourth consecutive year. Using published financial data from 69 Swiss banks, Künzle assessed each institution across four key criteria: growth, capital strength, efficiency, and prosperity (see link).

To ensure comparability, banks were divided into two groups – those managing more than 20 billion francs in assets and those below that threshold. Among the smaller institutions, Lugano-based Banca del Ceresio emerged as the top performer. In the large-bank category, the biggest surprise came from Goldman Sachs, which not only led the overall ranking but also topped the subcategory for growth.

Impressions From the Evening at Zurich's Zunfthaus zur Meisen

(Images: Michael Sicker/finews.com)

Limited Organic Growth

Beyond the rankings, the study’s findings paint a revealing picture of the industry’s state of play. They suggest that the traditional Swiss Private Banking model has reached its growth limits at many institutions.

While favorable market conditions lifted total client assets under management in Switzerland and Liechtenstein by nearly ten percent to a record 8.7 trillion francs, the gains were largely market-driven rather than the result of fresh inflows. «This growth was mostly dependent on financial markets and not on new client assets,» Künzle explained.

Warning Signs for Switzerland and Liechtenstein

In fact, the inflow of new money dropped by more than fourteen percent year-on-year – a clear, if not alarming, signal for the Swiss and Liechtenstein financial centers.

«To maintain their leading role as offshore hubs, Switzerland and Liechtenstein must expand their global presence and client acquisition capabilities beyond the traditional core markets of ‘Old Europe’,» Künzle emphasized.

Expanding Beyond Old Europe’s Borders

Panel discussion with representatives from the Swiss financial sector (Image: finews)

A panel discussion moderated by finews.com founder Claude Baumann echoed these concerns. The consensus among the industry leaders on stage was unmistakable: the future success of Swiss wealth management will depend on its ability to capture new wealth flows from high-growth regions – notably Asia, the Middle East, and the United States – and to rekindle growth momentum across the entire ecosystem.

In short, the world’s wealth is moving east and south – and Swiss private banking must follow.