World’s Best Private Banks 2026: Global Winners

In a period of solid recovery for the global private equity industry, Goldman Sachs stayed ahead of the competition by giving its clients direct access to a vast array of investment opportunities in the space. 

The bank’s Alternative Capital Markets (ACM) team continued to build momentum, driven by more than 80 people in six countries and 12 cities worldwide, and supported supported by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, which has its own network of over 1,000 investment professionals.

The team focuses on creating opportunities for clients to invest in alternatives through a full-service, open-architecture platform that includes sourcing managers, liquidity, managing advisory portfolios, and offering guidance across the alternatives landscape. 

ACM has seen sixfold growth in annual private commitments since 2014 and is on track for its highest fundraising year to date in 2025.

A cornerstone of the firm’s offering remains access to exclusive fund investment opportunities. “We’re integrated with the firm in a way that our clients are able to access all of Goldman Sachs through us,” says Tucker York, the global head of wealth management for the Wall Street giant. —TM

To position client education as a core business strategy, Sabadell Urquijo Banca Privada is implementing a multichannel approach to empower clients and advisers. The bank’s educational framework combines digital and in-person formats across multiple touchpoints. 

For direct client engagement, the bank conducted over 20 market-focused educational sessions across Spain and organized 141 exclusive events throughout the year, including economic forums and specialized workshops designed to enhance financial literacy. 

Digitally, the Sabadell Academy delivered educational infographics and short video capsules on financial topics via YouTube and social media platforms. Internally, the bank held weekly morning meetings with advisers and structured training sessions that counted toward professional recertification requirements, ensuring consistency in client communication.

The educational focus translated into measurable improvements in client satisfaction. The Net Promoter Score climbed from 38% in 2024 to 45% by February 2025, while 86% of new clients arrived through referrals. Client ratings of bankers reached 8.95 out of 10, with surveys identifying the quality of personalized attention and education as primary drivers of recommendations. —TM

LGT Group’s rare ability to combine global scale with the bespoke service of a genuine boutique private banking house was the decisive factor behind its award-winning performance this year.

Although many competitors in the space pursued consolidation, LGT strengthened its independent model inorganically, achieving record assets under management of approximately $456 billion in 2024, up 16% year on year (YoY), driven by organic net new money of about $27.2 billion. 

In the first half of 2025, operating income grew 10% to approximately $1.76 billion, while profit increased 38% to around $299 million. Despite the Liechtenstein-based group’s consolidated leadership, LTG continued to invest heavily in market trends, committing around $249 million toward innovation and hybrid advisory services, including a new development hub in Barcelona. Balancing tradition with technological foresight, LGT shows how a boutique institution can operate at a global scale, serving the most discerning clients with agility, depth, and enduring trust. —TM

Social responsibility isn’t about promoting isolated actions for Indosuez Wealth Management, but rather about embedding social impact into the fabric of its private banking operations. 

Through its Indosuez Foundation, which operates across five European countries, the bank directly funded eight organizations working on social inclusion and education for vulnerable populations in France, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, and Portugal during 2025. The bank also worked with Dress for Success to help women reenter the workforce and with the Stëmm vun der Strooss association to provide school supplies to children in need.

To promote financial inclusion, Indosuez partnered with the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association, delivering financial literacy programs in primary schools and presenting banking career pathways at youth employment fairs.

In addition, it continued to invest in expanding its holistic suite of socially impactful offerings. In 2025, the bank launched a new philanthropy advisory service to help clients structure their charitable giving. —TM

With over $161 billion in philanthropic assets and a best-in-class team of advisors, Bank of America Private Bank once again maintained its position as the undisputed industry leader for philanthropic services in private banking. This specialized approach in a key area for affluents helped the bank grow client relationships with assets exceeding $10 million from approximately 1,200 in 2023 to over 1,300 by year-end 2024.

Despite its already leading position, the private bank continues to push the envelope of what it means to provide support to philanthropic services. For the 2024-2026 period, it committed a multimillion-dollar investment in its digital grant technology platform, delivering a modern, scalable infrastructure to power grant, expense, and compliance management for foundation clients. 

Bank of America also distributes more than $500 million annually and serves as trustee or co-trustee for over 157 foundations. Its Charitable Gift Fund, with $6.4 billion in assets, ranks among the largest donor-advised funds in the world.

Furthermore, its Bank of America Study of Philanthropy, produced through an ongoing 20-year partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, is the most extensive longitudinal research on philanthropic behaviors among high-net-worth individuals in the US. —TM

Best-in-class expertise, a holistic approach to sustainability, and continued investment in innovation were once again the pillars that earned J. Safra Sarassin the Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing for the second year in a row. 

With its award-winning ESG Navigator platform continuing to serve as the digital backbone of its sustainable investment process, connecting ESG analysts, portfolio managers, and client-facing teams, the bank excelled in helping its clients navigate the continued rebound in ESG in 2025. 

The bank also continued to innovate in 2025, with two key offerings hitting the market: the SDG Engine, enabling portfolio managers and ESG analysts to jointly assess companies’ revenue alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals across energy transition, natural capital, basic needs, and people empowerment; and a green bond reporting framework linking investments to specific projects with measurable outcomes, including CO2 emissions avoided and renewable capacity added. —TM

With more than $170 billion in assets under management for more than 550 family office clients, Northern Trust continues to blend unmatched market experience with recurring technology improvements to excel in this competitive space.

Building on more than 40 years of expertise in its flagship Global Family & Private Investment Offices division (GFO), entirely focused on ultra-high-net-worth individuals, the bank continued to expand, posting 18% YoY growth in GFO assets under management and 10% growth in assets under custody. 

As a result, the giant now manages an unmatched 14.5% market share of the total $5.5 trillion in global family office wealth, with its average client relationship exceeding $1 billion.

To help ensure its continued leadership, Northern Trust has invested over $4 billion in technology during the past three years.Recent upgrades include a modernized platform interface with enhanced personalization, an improved Money Movement Solution that now processes $14 billion monthly, and a migrated Digital Collaboration Hub, which has driven engagement to jump by a massive 263% since its introduction. —TM

Combining best-in-class knowledge in emerging markets with specific segment-focused investments, BTG Pactual continues to gain market share like no other private bank in its segment. 

Since the beginning of 2024, the bank has gone on a shopping spree, significantly increasing the breadth and volume of its offerings. Among the giant’s main acquisitions are M.Y. Safra in New York with $391 million in assets, Greytown Advisors in Miami with $1 billion in Central American assets, Julius Baer Brasil’s family office with $11 billion in assets, and JGP Wealth Management with $3.4 billion in assets. These transactions established BTG as the largest multi-family office in Brazil.

As a result, the bank posted a massive 56% growth in assets under management over two years through March 2025, now totaling a market-commanding $175 billion.

In addition, its net new money reached $34.1 billion in the 12-month period ending March 2025. —TM

“Turning financial complexities into future possibilities” is the motto that continues to drive PNC Bank’s pursuit of growth across new and traditional client segments, rendering it the winner of its fourth consecutive Best Private Bank for New Client Segments award. 

With this objective in mind, the bank has developed a dedicated infrastructure to serve distinct wealth demographics, spanning aviation financing, investment real estate, and life insurance premium financing. In terms of customer segmentation, PNC continues to emphasize alternative market niches, such as retirees, inheritors, executives, and modern families, addressing the specific needs of each group through tailored expertise.

Among PNC’s best-in-class suite of alternative products are solutions such as tax-deferred lending for business owners transitioning ownership to Employee Stock Ownership Plans and a specialized pre- and post-liquidity plan. As a result, PNC Private Bank posted $131 billion in assets under management as of June 2025, up 7% year-over-year, with approximately 50% in the ultra-high-net-worth segment.  —TM

Citi Private Bank’s holistic approach to wealth management, combining new-gen education, family governance, and constant innovation, is the key to the bank’s leadership in this central aspect of private banking. 

Building on these principles, its award-winning Citi Latitude program has transformed how the next generation engages with wealth, creating a global network of emerging investors through curated events, expert-led discussions, and hands-on learning opportunities. The initiative has driven a 285% increase in Millennial clients since 2019, with this group now accounting for 11% of the bank’s client base.

On the technology and governance front, Citi’s Family Office platform continues to expand while remaining anchored in the same core values, now advising more than 1,800 family offices worldwide on succession and long-term planning. 

As the private banking industry braces for the largest wealth transfer in history—an estimated $84 trillion by 2045—Citi’s enduring focus on education and continuity reinforces its standing at the forefront of serving the needs of the next generation of wealth. —TM

Bringing top-tier, multigenerational wealth planning, commonly available only to the ultra-high-net-worth, down to the up-to-$5-million clientele is a challenge most banks have avoided facing. Despite being arguably the market segment with the highest growth potential, most banks struggle to balance profits and costs in this segment. 

Our category winner for this year, Fifth Third Private Bank, proves otherwise, however. By focusing on building the up-to-$5-million segment into upper affluents through comprehensive wealth planning as part of the standard client experience, the bank has been changing the perception of what private banks can deliver to this segment. 

This approach drove wealth strategy engagements up by 14% through 2024, while assets under management expanded from $36.5 billion to $42.9 billion. Meanwhile, fee income climbed 12% to reach $306.4 million. 

Client satisfaction remained strong with a Net Promoter Score of 75, and problem resolution improved from 81% to 83% year-over-year. —TM

By creating a specific team structure for the $5 million to $25 million segment through 15 specialized wealth management sites, distinct from its other 61 Private Banking centers that also serve lower tiers, BNP Paribas has been revolutionizing what is considered the most challenging tier in private banking. 

Among the bank’s exclusive offerings, its “Gestion de Fortune” structure works alongside wealth management engineers and financial analysts to deliver sophisticated portfolio construction specifically for the segment. 

The team provides access to institutional-grade investments that most private banks reserve for their ultra-high-net-worth clients, including private equity funds, private debt opportunities, and alternative investments. 

On the tech side, BNP’s “My Private Assets” digital platform, launched specifically for the $5 million to $25 million segment, offers the complete unlisted investment offering, with detailed fund analysis and educational resources to help clients navigate these complex opportunities.

As a result of this strategy, the bank continues to post solid growth in assets under management and fees, recording an 11% jump in the latter in 2024, amounting to approximately $750 million at today’s euro-dollar exchange rate. —TM

Unmatched scale and expertise in the ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) segment, coupled with an industry-leading low client-to-adviser ratio, are the keys to Goldman Sachs’ success in one of the most demanding tiers of private banking.

Goldman Sachs Wealth Management has been intentionally designed to meet the distinctive investing, planning, and lending needs of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, endowments, and foundations. The firm extends direct access to its world-class Institutional Investment Banking and Global Markets divisions, enabling UHNW clients to benefit from the same opportunities, pricing, and execution quality as major global institutions.

This integrated model is embodied in the firm’s “OneGS” approach, which provides unified coverage for personal and corporate needs—a crucial advantage for UHNW clients who are often entrepreneurs, executives, or business owners requiring expertise spanning wealth management and corporate finance.

With $523 billion in alternative assets under management, Goldman Sachs operates at an institutional scale while giving private wealth clients unique access to opportunities.

Driven by this highly tailored approach, the firm’s private banking division reached $1.6 trillion in total client assets as of March 2025—up from $1.5 trillion a year earlier—with the average account size now exceeding $75 million. —TM

As the Middle East and North Africa prepare for the largest wealth transfer in their history, NBK Wealth is investing in education through its exclusive Generation W program designed for heirs and future leaders to deepen their understanding of wealth management. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the initiative blends workshops, real-world case studies, and mentorship from experts at NBK, J.P. Morgan, and InterVest. The aim is to build on long-term relationships and strengthen trust with tomorrow’s affluent customers. By engaging the next generation early, NBK Wealth seeks to ensure that future decision-makers are equipped to make informed, confident choices.

Backed by the National Bank of Kuwait—one of the world’s 50 safest banks—NBK Wealth builds on a legacy of serving the GCC’s family fortunes since 1982. Its network spans five countries, offering clients global reach through partnerships with J.P. Morgan, InterVest, and Revcap for access to private equity and infrastructure. An early mover in private debt and structured investment solutions, NBK Wealth is also expanding in ESG investing and 
sustainable finance. Last year, assets under management rose 8.4%, while its client base grew 8.6%. —Chloe Domat

OTP Bank has long prioritized technological innovation, seeing it as key to streamlining services, reducing inefficient and costly paperwork, and improving service to its customers. The group’s OTP LAB was named among the World’s Best Financial Innovation Labs by Global Finance for the sixth consecutive year, underscoring OTP LAB’s role as a pioneer in financial technology and business model innovation. 

Alongside its Wealth Management platform, which streamlines workflows and improves investment advice, the bank has streamlined private banking processes, making client onboarding faster and more user-friendly. The OTP Group has also developed a comprehensive IT offering for supporting trusts with automated solutions, while a dedicated directorate to oversee and coordinate digital developments has been established within the organization.  These innovations “support our vision to become the leading Private Bank in the CEE market for digital innovation,” said Attila Banfi, managing director of OTP Global Markets, in a recent press interview. —Justin Keay

With the largest domestic branch network in Turkey—1,011 branches—and a strong international footprint spanning 22 branches across 11 countries, three foreign subsidiaries, and two representative offices (Türkiye İş Bankası A.S.), Isbank is Turkey’s largest privately owned bank, serving almost 23 million customers. 

To better cater to clients with assets above $500,000, Isbank Private Banking has dedicated 13 of its branches and 19 service corners located in commercial branches across Turkey and north Cyprus to serving this segment exclusively. 

Recognizing the importance of SMEs and entrepreneurs in Turkey, the bank has long focused on providing these segments with the support they need. Its Workup accelerator program for startups provides financing, mentoring, and other support to businesses with branches in major cities across the country. 

The bank also has a dedicated program for women entrepreneurs and has committed to providing TL 100 billion (about $2.36 billion) to female managers by 2028, working in conjunction with IFIs and other international bodies. It has also launched a venture capital arm, Tibas Ventures, to invest in promising projects identified by its Workup program. —JK

Hana Bank was the first Korean bank to launch a real estate investment advisory service, its Global Real Estate Investment Advisory Service, which offers clients end-to-end support, including market insights and transaction execution. 

Hana offers a real-time property advisory service encompassing tours of physical properties and analysis of property price data. 

The service is offered to customers interested in global real estate opportunities. It is designed to minimize the challenges often encountered in overseas real estate investments, such as a dearth of information and language barriers. 

In addition, Hana developed in 2025 a commercial real estate market prediction model—Hana AI CRP (Commercial Real Estate Market Prediction)—through collaboration with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, a groundbreaking initiative in Korea’s investment market. 

The bank also runs real estate-focused seminars. At the tenth seminar held this year, Hana invited customers to explore the Hannam-dong area of Seoul—a hotspot for affluent young investors—covering key points and precautions for investing in the area. Seminar attendees enjoyed in-depth explanations and real-time consultation with bank real estate experts, gaining insights into an area transforming from a luxury retail district into a cultural hub. —Jonathan Rogers

Bank of New Zealand’s (BNZ’s) focus on women clients dates back to 1958, when it launched a “Ladies Bank” for female customers. That historical precedent has proved prescient: in 2025, nearly 50% of BNZ Private Bank’s customers with investable assets of $1 million or more are women, rising from 32% in 2023 to 48% this year. And BNZ Private Bank has a 100% female leadership team and a 60% female staff, thanks to strong customer demand for female relationship managers and advisers. 

Moreover, the overall dynamic mirrors New Zealand’s corporate landscape, in which 40% of companies are led by women and one in five CFOs are female. 

The bank’s key initiatives include partnering with The Curve, a platform aimed at women investors that emphasizes real-world advice and financial empowerment, as well as with Global Women, an NGO that brings together over 400 influential leaders in New Zealand to advance diversity, equity, and leadership. 

In addition, BNZ established in 2020 a dedicated domestic and economic violence banking team to support abuse victims, and partnered with the Women’s Refuge and Good Shepherd New Zealand. —JR

The central challenge for any private bank operating within the “fourth industrial revolution” currently underway, driven by digitalization and technological innovation, is how to link the digital inputs, increasingly involving AI, with human interaction.

DBS has understood this challenge and risen to it comprehensively, even coining its own in-house term to describe the solution—“phygital.” The bank interacts digitally with clients via data-driven “nudges” that alert them to market opportunities, which then trigger conversations with relationship managers. This year, millions of client engagement nudges have generated thousands of relationship manager conversations, helping to form a powerful hybrid engagement model.

Further refinement to the model was added with the launch of Wealth Co-pilot. This GenAI tool translates the CIO’s views and clients’ profiles into tailored insights and recommendations, setting DBS Private Bank apart by embedding AI directly into the client advisory process. Meanwhile, the bank has also proved a leader with its digital asset offering, integrating tokenization, secure custody, and its regulated DDEX Exchange into one ecosystem, backed by unique offerings such as crypto trust structures that allow digital assets to be embedded into legacy planning. —JR

With global operations in Asia, the US, and Europe, Mirae Asset Securities (MAS) has leveraged its extensive reach to source opportunities and advance one of its core missions: becoming a pre-eminent financial group through innovation. “Identifying investment opportunities and preparing for the future is a concern we share with our clients. Conscious of these challenges, we strive to be a permanent innovator for investors,” states MAS on its website. 

AI is facilitating this mindset of “permanent innovation,” achieved through acquisitions and organic growth to form a new financial ecosystem. In 2023, MAS acquired Australia’s leading robo-advisory asset management firm, Stockspot, and then established Wealthspot, an AI subsidiary based in New York, as well as setting up a strategic AI center in India. All are powered by big data and advanced algorithms. In particular, MAS has opened the door to product innovation by offering a range of exchange-traded funds via its partnership with Global X ETFs, providing access to a variety of market strategies, as well as covered calls and specialized exposure to technology markets in Asia, including the China Core ETF. —JR