How long does it take to open a private banking relationship?

For standard profiles, 2-6 weeks after the first meeting with the banker and the submission of KYC documentation. Luganese banks are used to international clientele but apply rigorous CRS and AML standards.

Foreign private bank with a Swiss branch, or cantonal bank?

It depends on the profile. The major houses (UBS, Pictet, Julius Baer, Vontobel, Lombard Odier) have presence in Lugano and global coverage. Banca Stato del Cantone Ticino carries a cantonal state guarantee and is valued for the stable pillar of the patrimony. The two are often combined.

Are there independent asset managers?

Yes. Lugano has one of the highest densities of independent asset managers (EAM) in Europe. They have been under FINMA supervision since 2023 and represent a credible alternative to the single custodian bank.

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Chapter 05 · Finance

A financial centre that punches above its weight.

Lugano is the third Swiss financial centre after Zurich and Geneva. For many types of patrimony it is also the most fitting, because the scale remains human.

Banks on the ground

Around fifty institutions operate in Lugano: international private houses (UBS, Pictet, Julius Baer, Vontobel, EFG, Lombard Odier), cantonal banks (Banca Stato, BancaStato Group), historical local institutions (BSI/EFG, Banca del Ceresio), foreign branches.

Independent asset managers

Over 200 independent wealth management firms under FINMA supervision. A model that separates custody (with the bank) and management, reducing conflicts of interest and lowering total costs on large patrimonies.

Fiduciaries and family offices

Local multi-family office structures and long-standing fiduciaries handle family governance, personal holdings and patrimonial confidentiality within the limits set by international information-exchange rules.

Ancillary services

Safe deposit boxes of the highest category, inside and outside the banks.
Art lending and artwork custody in the Chiasso free port.
Trusts and foundations under Liechtenstein or common-law jurisdictions, administered from Ticino.

Crypto and digital assets

Ticino — together with Zug — is one of the European reference jurisdictions for the crypto world. We have built specific know-how in this area, with direct contacts at the leading Swiss law firms specialised in the sector: token structuring, custody, foundations and DAOs, tax treatment of staking, mining and capital gains, FINMA interaction. When needed we assist the client in the KYC and AML due diligence required by Swiss banks and brokers in the event of cold-storage liquidation, historical source-of-funds reconstruction and on-boarding of crypto patrimonies into the traditional banking system.

Domande frequenti

Risposte rapide

How long does it take to open a private banking relationship?: For standard profiles, 2-6 weeks after the first meeting with the banker and the submission of KYC documentation. Luganese banks are used to international clientele but apply rigorous CRS and AML standards.
Foreign private bank with a Swiss branch, or cantonal bank?: It depends on the profile. The major houses (UBS, Pictet, Julius Baer, Vontobel, Lombard Odier) have presence in Lugano and global coverage. Banca Stato del Cantone Ticino carries a cantonal state guarantee and is valued for the stable pillar of the patrimony. The two are often combined.
Are there independent asset managers?: Yes. Lugano has one of the highest densities of independent asset managers (EAM) in Europe. They have been under FINMA supervision since 2023 and represent a credible alternative to the single custodian bank.

Primo contatto

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