26Jun2025

What if a Transaction Bank Entered the Swiss EAM Space?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the vapa Swiss independent wealth management blog posts featured on this page are solely my own and do not necessarily represent the views of any institutions or organisations I may be associated with. These posts are intended to share personal insights and perspectives and should not be interpreted as official statements or positions of any affiliated entities.

Imagine a transaction bank that serves only wealth managers, not their clients.💡

Now imagine that this bank offers no investment advice, discretionary mandates, or client-facing services. Its sole purpose is to provide custody and account infrastructure for independent wealth managers (EAMs).
⚙️ Fully digital. Lean. B2B only.

But here’s the trade-off:
🌍 Limited jurisdictional coverage.

This model already exists abroad. But hypothetically, what if it entered Switzerland, a market defined by cross-border client complexity, high regulatory standards, and deep private banking tradition?

For many Swiss EAMs, multi-jurisdictional support is not optional. They manage global families, trusts, and bespoke structures; a narrowly focused provider may feel too restrictive in that context.

Still, not all firms operate across borders. 📈 For EAMs with standardised mandates and defined markets, such a custody solution could offer real advantages: operational simplicity, lower costs, and clean digital processes.

So, how would established banks respond?

🏦 Some may double down on their strengths: integrated advice, global coverage, lending, and long-term relationships.
🔧 Others could adapt—modular offerings, pricing tiers, or upgraded interfaces.
🤝 In some cases, even selective collaboration may emerge: fintech speed meets institutional reliability.

This isn’t about replacement—it’s about segmentation. Switzerland’s wealth ecosystem is built on trust and consistency, but evolves when value is clear.

💬 Would your firm consider a digital transaction bank custody partner—if it meant efficiency and focus, but came with boundaries?

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Tradition meets innovation: A digital custody bank for EAMs challenges the Swiss private banking status quo.

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