Best Private Banks for HNWIs in 2026: 16 Strong Banks Reviewed

The best private banks for HNWIs in 2026 are not simply the biggest ones. Size tells you that a bank can afford good people and systems, but it tells you nothing about how much equity stands between your deposits and a bad year, or whether the bank will still want you when its strategy changes. So this review starts somewhere else: with capital, credit ratings and each bank’s record with its regulators, and only then with service and fit.

We looked at the private banks that book most of the world’s cross-border wealth in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom, and kept 16 that pass a strength test. For each one, you also get the latest capital ratio, the long-term ratings of the entity that would hold your account, a realistic entry level and the kind of client it suits. The figures come from half-year 2026 reports and filings, so each one can be checked against its source.

In brief: the best private banks for HNWIs in 2026

• Strongest balance sheets. Lombard Odier (30.5% CET1, Fitch AA-), Pictet (21.2% CET1, Moody’s Aa2 and Fitch AA-), UBP (22.5% Tier 1, Moody’s Aa2 for deposits) and LGT (Aa2 and A+). C. Hoare & Co. matches them on capital but has no credit rating.
• Widest global platforms. UBS, with US$4.9 trillion of invested assets in its wealth division, and J.P. Morgan, with US$3.8 trillion of private-banking client assets. Both also carry AA-range ratings on the bank that books clients.
• Asia. DBS Private Bank, named the world’s best and safest private bank by Euromoney in 2026, and Bank of Singapore. However, UBS is still the largest private bank in Asia, with US$795 billion at the end of 2025.
• United Kingdom. Coutts now asks new clients for £3 million, Barclays for £3 million in the UK or £5 million elsewhere, and C. Hoare & Co. for about £1 million in deposits plus an interview.
• Watch points. Julius Baer is working under FINMA measures announced in September 2026, UBS faces tougher Swiss capital rules, Lombard Odier is appealing a criminal fine and Moody’s has UBP on negative outlook. None of these makes the bank weak, but you should know about them before you sign.

How we chose the best private banks for HNWIs

To find the best private banks, our starting point was the group of private banks that book most HNW money across borders, such as the largest global platforms and the Geneva partnerships. Then, to reach this list, a bank had to clear four tests:

1. Credit quality of the booking bank. A long-term deposit or issuer rating of A or better from at least one of S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, or, for an unrated bank, a CET1 ratio above 20% and a long record without state support.
2. Capital. A CET1 ratio, or Tier 1 where that is all the bank discloses, well above its regulatory minimum on the latest reporting date.
3. A real private-banking business. Dedicated private-banking teams of meaningful size, or a clear specialism, in at least one of the four booking centres.
4. No unresolved existential problem. A recent fine does not exclude a bank if the issue is disclosed and contained, but we name it in the review.

However, we do not boil the 16 banks down to one score. Which bank suits you depends on where you live, what you bring and what you need the bank to do, so the strength explorer and the shortlist tool below let you weigh the data yourself. Awards are mentioned where they help, but they did not decide inclusion, because entry for most awards starts with submissions from the banks.

What the numbers can and cannot tell you

For one thing, capital ratios are not perfectly comparable. US, Swiss, UK and Singapore rules differ, and a private bank with a small loan book naturally shows a higher ratio than a universal bank. Ratings are not comparable either unless you check which entity they belong to: in this review they are always those of the bank that would book a private client, which is often not the listed parent. For a ranking by size alone, see instead our global ranking of private banks by AUM.

The 16 best private banks at a glance

The table compares the banks on the measures that matter most when you choose where to hold serious money. Client assets use each bank’s own definition, so treat them as an order of magnitude rather than a league table.

Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Singapore

Eight Swiss, Liechtenstein and Singapore private banks compared

Capital ratio: group CET1, except UBP (Tier 1). Ratings: long-term deposit or issuer ratings of the bank that books private clients; for Bank of Singapore, those of its parent OCBC. Client assets use each bank’s own definition, so the reviews below give the exact measure.

United States and United Kingdom

Eight US and UK private banks compared

Sources for both tables: half-year 2026 reports and Q2 2026 SEC filings of each group; C. Hoare & Co. annual report to 31 March 2026; rating pages of the banks and agencies; entry levels from bank websites, Spear’s (April 2026), Reuters and our own client files. Entry levels are the highest we have seen for non-resident clients, although banks make exceptions.

Why these four booking centres

Four places hold most of the money that wealthy families keep outside their home country. BCG’s Global Wealth Report 2026 puts global cross-border wealth at US$15.7 trillion in 2025, up 8.4%. Hong Kong edged past Switzerland for the first time, although both booked about US$2.9 trillion. Singapore followed with US$2.1 trillion, then the United States with US$1.6 trillion and the UK with about US$1 trillion.

The Swiss figure from the Swiss Bankers Association is similar: CHF 2,945.7 billion of cross-border private-client wealth at the end of 2025, up 7.6% on a currency-adjusted basis. Singapore, however, is growing faster from a smaller base. The Monetary Authority of Singapore reports S$6.7 trillion of assets under management in 2025, up 10.1%, and more than 2,000 single family offices with tax incentives at the end of December 2025. Hong Kong is not covered separately here because most of the banks reviewed book there as well as in Singapore; our comparison of Singapore and Hong Kong private banking looks at the differences.

The choice of centre matters as much as the choice of bank. The same bank applies different rules, minimums and protections in each country where it books clients, so the first question is always where your account would actually sit. Our guide to wealth management jurisdictions separates custody, structuring and personal tax residence.

Best private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Switzerland remains the deepest market for private banking, and many of its strongest names are still partnerships or family-owned groups that answer to their owners rather than to quarterly markets. Deposits are protected up to CHF 100,000 per client and bank, while securities held in custody are segregated from the bank’s own assets. The six reviewed below are the best private banks in Switzerland and Liechtenstein for clients who put strength first. For the full field, see our top 10 Swiss private banks by AUM and the credit ratings of Swiss banks.

UBS Global Wealth Management: the widest platform, with a capital question

Key figures: invested assets US$4,942 billion (30 June 2026) · net new assets US$73 billion in H1 2026 · CET1 14.4% (group) · UBS AG rated Aa2 (Moody’s), A+ (S&P), AA (Fitch) · no published minimum; CHF or US$5–10 million in practice for non-residents

No other bank offers one relationship across Switzerland, the US, Singapore, Hong Kong, Monaco, the UK and the EU on this scale. Global Wealth Management added US$73 billion of net new assets in the first half of 2026, while Fitch raised UBS AG to AA in May 2026. Euromoney named UBS Switzerland’s best private bank and the world’s best for family office services in 2026, and the bank still leads Asia by assets. So for families who want lending, a family office desk and access to markets everywhere, UBS is the default choice for good reasons.

The question mark, however, is capital. Switzerland is tightening the rules for its only global bank, and on 23 September 2026 the Council of States voted for UBS to back 90% of its foreign participations with CET1 capital. The National Council still has to decide, so the final outcome will probably come in 2027. For a client, more capital means a safer bank, but it may also mean higher prices or a narrower offer in some markets. Some families also prefer not to hold everything with a bank of this size; our analysis of concentration risk at UBS explains how to think about that.

Pictet: partnership capital and a 21% CET1 ratio

Key figures: wealth management AUM CHF 301 billion; group assets under management or custody CHF 810 billion (30 June 2026) · H1 profit CHF 371 million · CET1 21.2%, total capital 21.9% · Banque Pictet & Cie rated Aa2 for deposits (Moody’s) and AA- (Fitch), both affirmed in August and September 2026 · no published minimum; about CHF 10 million for non-residents

Pictet is owned and run by its managing partners. In 2014 it converted from an unlimited-liability partnership into a partnership limited by shares, but it kept the long horizon that goes with partner ownership. The half-year figures show a cost/income ratio of 71% and capital that most listed banks would envy, and Fitch has rated the bank AA- since 2005. PWM also named Pictet the best private bank for UHNW clients in 2025, and it books clients in Geneva, Zurich, Lausanne, Luxembourg, Monaco, London, Nassau, Singapore and Hong Kong.

There are, however, two points to note. Pictet does not publish net new money, so you cannot see how much of its growth comes from new clients. In addition, its record is not spotless: it signed a deferred prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice in December 2023 over legacy US tax business, and in June 2025 the Swiss Attorney General imposed a CHF 2 million fine in a Petrobras-related money-laundering case. Even so, neither affects its financial strength. Overall, Pictet suits UHNW families who want a conservative, investment-led house and can bring CHF 10 million or more; our review of Pictet’s 2026 results covers the numbers in more detail.

Lombard Odier: the most capital in this review

Key figures: AUM CHF 239 billion; total client assets CHF 367 billion (30 June 2026) · H1 profit CHF 138.2 million, up 25% · CET1 30.5%, liquidity coverage 320%, leverage ratio 9.0% · Fitch AA- (reaffirmed October 2025) · clients “typically” bring more than CHF 1 million; about CHF 5 million for non-residents

Lombard Odier holds more capital relative to its risk-weighted assets than any other bank here. Its regulatory disclosure shows a CET1 ratio of 30.5%, which is possible because the bank runs a small, mostly collateralised loan book and keeps client money liquid. The bank is owned by its managing partners, books clients through ten centres including Geneva, Luxembourg, Singapore and Nassau, and won Euromoney’s award for succession planning in 2026. In other words, it suits families who care most about passing wealth on in an orderly way.

The watch point is legal rather than financial. On 27 July 2026 the Federal Criminal Court fined Lombard Odier CHF 3 million for organisational failures linked to the Gulnara Karimova case, while rejecting the compensation claim sought by prosecutors; the bank says it will appeal. Until the appeal is decided, the verdict is not final. Our report on Lombard Odier’s 2026 results looks at how the bank grew profit while keeping costs flat.

Julius Baer: Asia reach, with regulatory strings attached

Key figures: AUM CHF 547 billion (30 June 2026) · net new money CHF 5.7 billion in H1 (2.2% annualised) · IFRS net profit CHF 673 million · CET1 18.5% · Bank Julius Baer & Co. rated A1 for deposits (Moody’s) · about CHF 1 million in Switzerland, up to CHF 5 million abroad (reported)

Julius Baer is the largest pure wealth manager in this review. It has no investment bank or retail arm, its capital ratio rose to 18.5% in the first half of 2026, and its Asian business, worth US$204 billion at the end of 2025, is the fifth largest in the region. Euromoney also named it Asia’s best boutique private bank in 2026. So for an entrepreneur who wants a Swiss bank that understands Singapore, Hong Kong and the Gulf, it remains a natural candidate.

On 29 September 2026, however, FINMA closed enforcement proceedings over the bank’s lending to the Signa group and its handling of two Russian client groups with politically exposed persons. The regulator requires CHF 250 million of extra capital until the bank has exited unsuitable client assets, has restricted new business with politically exposed persons from high-risk countries for now, and will receive reports on the bank’s risk culture until 2032. The ruling is not yet legally binding, so it may still change. Client assets in custody are not at risk, but if you are a politically exposed person, expect a slower or closed door until the restrictions are lifted. Our client view of Julius Baer’s half-year has the detail.

Union Bancaire Privée: family-owned Geneva strength in alternatives

Key figures: client assets CHF 193.5 billion (30 June 2026) · H1 group profit CHF 169.4 million, up 40.4% · Tier 1 ratio 22.5%, liquidity coverage 233.8% · UBP SA rated Aa2 for deposits and A2 for senior debt by Moody’s, outlook negative · no published minimum; CHF 3–5 million for non-residents

UBP is owned by the de Picciotto family, with the second generation in charge since 2016, and it has used that patience to buy well. For example, it integrated Société Générale’s Swiss private bank and SG Kleinwort Hambros within a year, which made London its largest hub outside Switzerland. The bank runs eleven booking centres, from Geneva and Luxembourg to Monaco, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai, and PWM named it Europe’s best private bank for alternatives in 2025, a fair reflection of its long history in hedge funds.

The caveats are the negative outlook on its Moody’s ratings and the absence of a net new money figure; in fact, the half-year growth in client assets came mainly from markets. UBP suits clients who want alternatives expertise and a family owner, especially with a UK connection. Our review of UBP’s 2026 results asks whether the acquisitions are paying off.

LGT: a princely owner and fast organic growth

Key figures: AUM CHF 412.6 billion (30 June 2026) · net new assets CHF 12.3 billion in H1 (6.4% annualised) · CET1 18.0%, liquidity coverage 212.5% · LGT Bank Ltd rated Aa2 (Moody’s) and A+ (S&P), both stable · no published minimum; CHF 3–5 million for non-residents

LGT has been controlled by the Princely House of Liechtenstein for more than 90 years, and it shows in a balance sheet built for generations rather than quarters. It grew faster than most peers in the first half of 2026, with net new assets of CHF 12.3 billion, and it books clients in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, Hong Kong and the UK. Euromoney also named it the world’s best boutique private bank in 2026, and its private-markets arm, LGT Capital Partners, gives clients access that many banks of its size cannot offer.

On the other hand, the cost/income ratio of 73.3% is high, and LGT plans to carve out its asset-management business legally, which S&P does not expect to affect the ratings. Still, for families who value a stable owner and want Europe and Asia under one roof, LGT is one of the most convincing choices. See also our analysis of LGT’s growth to CHF 412.6 billion and our guide to Liechtenstein private banking for non-residents.

Best private banks in Singapore and Asia

Asia’s private banking market grew quickly in 2025. The ten largest private banks in the region raised their Asian AUM by 22.5% to more than US$2.5 trillion, according to the finews.asia league table. The table shows who leads; note that DBS does not appear because it does not report private-bank assets separately.

Asia’s ten largest private banks by AUM in Asia, end of 2025 (US$ billion)

Source: finews.asia 2025 Private Banking AUM League Table, published 31 March 2026. DBS, Citi and Standard Chartered are not included because they do not disclose comparable private-bank figures.

Among the best private banks in Asia, two Singapore banks, in particular, stand out for strength. Both belong to groups rated AA- by Fitch and S&P and Aa1 by Moody’s, among the highest ratings of any bank in the world. In addition, deposits in Singapore dollars are insured up to S$100,000 per depositor and member bank. For more on the market, see our list of private banks in Singapore by AUM, the Singapore bank credit ratings and our guide to Singapore private banking for non-residents.

DBS Private Bank: Euromoney’s world’s best and safest in 2026

Key figures: wealth segment AUM S$516 billion (about US$399 billion), up 17% year on year; net new money S$21 billion in H1 2026 · CET1 16.6% (14.6% fully phased-in) · DBS Bank Ltd rated Aa1 (Moody’s), AA- (S&P), AA- (Fitch) · US$5 million published; about US$20 million in practice for non-residents

DBS has built a clear ladder for wealthy clients: Treasures from S$350,000, Treasures Private Client from S$1.5 million and the private bank from US$5 million in investible assets. Its wealth segment, which covers all three tiers, crossed half a trillion Singapore dollars in June 2026. Euromoney named DBS the world’s best private bank, the world’s safest private bank and the best for digital assets in 2026, so it is an obvious choice for families who want an Asian bank with ratings as strong as any in the world.

The limitation, however, is reach. DBS books private clients mainly in Singapore and Hong Kong, and for non-residents outside Asia the practical entry level is much higher than the published one, often around US$20 million in our experience. Our comparison of DBS, OCBC and UOB’s 2026 results shows how the three groups stack up.

Bank of Singapore: OCBC’s dedicated private bank

Key figures: AUM about US$150 billion at the end of 2025 (finews.asia); OCBC banking wealth management AUM S$350 billion, up 13% (30 June 2026) · CET1 15.7% (OCBC Group) · parent OCBC rated Aa1, AA-, AA- · US$5 million published

Bank of Singapore is OCBC’s private bank and nothing else, so it stays focused. It works on an open-architecture platform, and its hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai all performed well in 2025, when AUM grew by more than 20%. The bank raised its minimum from US$3 million to US$5 million in 2024 and, unlike many rivals, states it openly. It has also hired heavily, reaching about 500 relationship managers, as it aims for a place among Asia’s five largest private banks.

Its assets are smaller than those of the global players, and the ratings quoted here are its parent’s, so ask which entity will book you and how that entity is rated. Even so, for Asian and Middle Eastern families who want open architecture under an Aa1-rated parent, it is one of the best private banks in the region. OCBC’s half-year results give the group figures.

Best private banks in the United States

The US has the most millionaires by far: 8.7 million HNWIs in 2025, after 736,000 joined their ranks in a single year, according to Capgemini. American private banks are also the largest in the world by client assets, but they report their wealth businesses in different ways, so the figures below are not directly comparable. Their ratings, meanwhile, belong to the national bank subsidiaries that hold client deposits and loans. Deposits there are insured by the FDIC, but only up to US$250,000 per depositor, bank and ownership category. If you are a US person, these banks are your natural starting point; for non-US clients, the question is where they will book you outside the US. The four below are, in our view, the best private banks in the US for internationally minded HNWIs.

J.P. Morgan Private Bank: the scale leader with a top rating

Key figures: private banking client assets US$3,824 billion, up 20% year on year; AUM US$1,559 billion (30 June 2026) · 4,119 client advisers · CET1 14.2% · JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. rated Aa2 (Moody’s), AA- (S&P), AA (Fitch) · about US$10 million (reported, not published)

JPMorgan’s private bank combines the strongest ratings of any US bank in this review with the largest disclosed private-banking client base. Its quarterly supplement shows private banking client assets of US$3.8 trillion and an adviser force that grew 10% in a year. PWM named it the best global private bank in 2025 for the second year running, and Euromoney picked it as the world’s best for alternatives and for digital solutions in 2026. Its Asian AUM also rose 39.1% in 2025, the fastest growth in the finews.asia table.

Outside the US, JPMorgan serves clients from Geneva, Zurich, London, Luxembourg, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. The entry level is high, and the bank’s US cash-sweep litigation concerns brokerage clients rather than the private bank’s balance sheet. In short, it suits global families who borrow against their assets and want serious access to private markets.

Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management: built for the ultra-wealthy

Key figures: long-term assets under supervision in the wealth channel US$1,041 billion; private bank deposits US$100.4 billion (30 June 2026) · CET1 12.9% (standardised) · Goldman Sachs Bank USA rated A1 (Moody’s), A+ (S&P), AA- (Fitch, upgraded in Q2 2026) · about US$10 million in account size (reported); typical clients are worth US$30 million or more

Goldman Sachs aims at founders, executives and families with complex balance sheets. In 2026, for instance, Euromoney named it the world’s best private bank for UHNW clients, North America’s best private bank and the best in the US, and its chief investment office won the world award too. Fitch upgraded the long-term debt of Goldman Sachs Bank USA and the group’s other operating banks to AA- in the second quarter of 2026, according to the bank’s 10-Q filing.

Its CET1 ratio of 12.9% is among the lowest of the banks here, although it remains above the bank’s 11.4% requirement. Outside the US, clients are served through Geneva and Zurich, London, Dubai, Riyadh, Monaco, Singapore and Hong Kong. Above all, Goldman suits UHNW clients who want co-investment, structured lending and access to the firm’s deal flow, and who are comfortable with an investment-bank culture.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management: America’s wealth machine

Key figures: wealth management client assets US$8,084 billion, of which US$6,273 billion adviser-led; record net new assets of US$148.1 billion in Q2 2026 · CET1 14.9% · Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. rated Aa3 (Moody’s), A+ (S&P), AA (Fitch) · US$20 million in investable assets for Private Wealth Management

Morgan Stanley runs the largest wealth franchise in America, and its financial supplement shows how fast it is still growing. The headline net new assets for the second quarter were flattered by inflows linked to IPOs in its workplace channel, but the underlying momentum is strong. Specifically, Private Wealth Management, the division for UHNW families, serves clients with US$20 million or more, and its Asian business grew to US$220 billion of AUM in 2025.

Morgan Stanley sold its UK, Italian and Dubai private wealth businesses to Credit Suisse in 2012 and 2013, so many international clients now work with US-based advisers. It therefore suits US families and Asian clients who want US custody and lending. A FINRA inquiry into its anti-money-laundering checks, reported in 2025, is still worth asking about.

Citi Private Bank: family offices and cross-border complexity

Key figures: wealth client investment assets US$727 billion; net new investment assets US$30.4 billion in H1 2026 (whole wealth segment) · CET1 12.8% · Citibank, N.A. rated Aa3 (Moody’s), A+ (S&P), AA- (Fitch, positive outlook) · net worth of US$10 million (Americas and Asia-Pacific) or US$25 million (Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America)

Citi Private Bank is built for families whose lives span many countries. According to its own FAQ, it serves clients from around a hundred jurisdictions and more than 1,500 family offices, from offices in 20 countries including Geneva, Zurich, London, Jersey, Monaco, Luxembourg, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. PWM also named it the best private bank for family offices in 2025, and Euromoney gave it the world award for client service in 2026.

Citi does not disclose client balances for the private bank alone, and its wider wealth segment now includes US retail banking, which makes the numbers hard to compare. The group is also still working through remediation orders issued by US regulators in 2020. Even so, it suits families and family offices with complex cross-border holdings, although family-office services start at US$100 million of assets.

Best private banks in the United Kingdom

London’s private banks are repositioning. HNWI wealth in the UK grew by only 4.1% in 2025, well below the global rate; at the same time, the non-dom regime ended in April 2025, and several banks have raised their entry levels to focus on wealthier clients. A Spear’s survey published in April 2026 found that minimum thresholds at top private banks ranged from about US$3 million to more than US$30 million. UK deposits are protected up to £120,000 per person and bank since 1 December 2025. Four banks still stand out as the best private banks in London for HNWIs who want strength and service together.

Coutts: the royal bank resets its door at £3 million

Key figures: NatWest Private Banking & Wealth Management AUMA £130.6 billion, including £71.7 billion from the Evelyn Partners acquisition; customer deposits £41.4 billion (30 June 2026) · CET1 13.2% (NatWest Group) · National Westminster Bank Plc rated A1 (Moody’s), A+ (S&P), AA (Fitch) · £3 million for new clients since November 2025

Coutts, founded in 1692 and part of NatWest, raised its minimum from £1 million to £3 million for new clients in what Spear’s called the largest jump in its entry threshold in its history. The move goes with a strategy aimed at UHNW clients and with NatWest’s purchase of the wealth manager Evelyn Partners, which more than doubled the division’s assets under management and administration in the second quarter of 2026. The division also earned an operating profit of £212 million in the first half, with a cost:income ratio of 63.2%.

Coutts is a UK bank first, so international clients usually need a strong UK connection. It suits UK-resident families, entrepreneurs and professionals who want a mortgage and private banking under one roof, inside NatWest’s ring-fenced banking group, whose main bank is rated AA by Fitch. NatWest’s results centre has the half-year report.

Barclays Private Bank: lending power and Crown Dependency booking

Key figures: Private Bank & Wealth Management client assets and liabilities £230.2 billion; invested assets £142.5 billion; deposits £72.7 billion (30 June 2026) · CET1 14.3% (Barclays Group) · Barclays Bank UK PLC rated A1 for deposits (Moody’s), A+ (S&P), AA- (Fitch) · £3 million to invest in the UK, or £5 million elsewhere (published)

Barclays publishes its entry levels, which is rarer than it should be: £3 million of investments for UK clients and £5 million in other jurisdictions. The business earned a return on equity of 24.1% in the first half of 2026 according to the half-year results, and its client assets and liabilities grew to £230 billion. Clients can be booked in London as well as through Barclays Bank PLC’s branches in Jersey and the Isle of Man.

Costs are rising as Barclays invests in the business, and the cost:income ratio sat at 73% in the second quarter. Barclays suits UK-connected international families who need lending, including against property, and who value booking in the Crown Dependencies rather than in London alone.

HSBC Global Private Banking: the bridge between the UK and Asia

Key figures: private bank client balances US$554 billion; invested assets US$453 billion (30 June 2026) · CET1 14.1% (HSBC Group) · HSBC UK Bank plc and HSBC Bank plc rated A1 (Moody’s) and A+ (S&P), both on positive outlook, and AA (Fitch) · £2 million in the UK (published)

HSBC’s private bank is the second largest in Asia, with US$302 billion at the end of 2025, and it books clients in the UK, Switzerland, the Channel Islands, Luxembourg, France, Hong Kong, Singapore and the US. That network makes it a practical choice for families with business in both London and Hong Kong. In the UK it lowered its published entry point to £2 million, according to Spear’s, while treating UHNW clients as those worth more than US$100 million.

The private bank shrank slightly in the first half of 2026: invested assets fell to US$453 billion from US$465 billion at the end of 2025, according to HSBC’s interim report. So ask who will cover you and from which booking centre. All in all, HSBC suits families who want one bank between the UK and Asia, with group ratings on positive outlook at two agencies.

C. Hoare & Co.: no rating, plenty of capital

Key figures: customer deposits £6.555 billion; profit before tax £62.2 million (year to 31 March 2026) · CET1 22.7%, total capital 22.9% · not rated · about £1 million in deposits, or £1 million plus £1 million of lending, after an interview

Founded in 1672 and owned by the Hoare family for twelve generations, Hoare’s is the opposite of a global platform. It funds itself only from customer deposits, holds about a third of them in cash and gilts at the Bank of England, and reported a CET1 ratio of 22.7% in its 2026 annual report. Meanwhile, Simon Kenyon takes over as chief executive in 2026. The bank told Spear’s that clients typically deposit at least £1 million and are interviewed to make sure they fit.

It has no credit rating, a small balance sheet and a UK-only focus, so it is not a place to hold global assets. Still, for UK families who want a conservative relationship bank with very high capital, it belongs among the best private banks in the country.

Entry levels: what the best private banks ask for in 2026

Thresholds at the best private banks are rising. For example, Coutts tripled its minimum, Bank of Singapore raised its own to US$5 million in 2024, and Julius Baer reportedly asked smaller clients to add funds or leave in December 2025. Most banks still treat their numbers as guidelines: an entrepreneur below the line may be accepted if the bank sees growth, and a client above it may be refused if the profile is too complex.

The entry levels in our tables come in three kinds. Some are published by the bank itself, such as those at DBS, Bank of Singapore, Barclays, Citi and HSBC in the UK. Others were reported by named media, such as the £3 million at Coutts or the US$10 million usually quoted for JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs. The rest, mainly for Swiss banks that publish nothing, are the levels we see in practice for non-resident clients in our own files; where our articles have cited different figures, we use the highest. For the full picture, see our guide to minimum deposits for non-residents and our list of Swiss banks for foreigners by deposit size.

Which of the best private banks fits you?

Strength narrows the field; fit decides it. The tool below filters the 16 banks by the assets you would bring and where you want to book them, then ranks the eligible banks by what matters most to you.

When several banks fit, many families split their assets. Capgemini’s World Wealth Report 2026 found that only 19% of HNWIs now work with a single wealth firm, down from 39% in 2019. Two banks in two different booking centres also spread counterparty risk and give you a second relationship if one bank changes its policy. Our guide to choosing a reliable Swiss bank shows how to test a bank against different failure scenarios.

Strong private banks that just missed this list

Several strong banks came close to this list of the best private banks and would make a shortlist for the right client, but fell outside our four tests or our four booking centres:

• Bank of America Private Bank is very strong, with US$802 billion of client balances and AA-range ratings, and it serves clients with more than US$3 million. It books almost entirely in the US, so it suits US residents rather than international families.
• Vontobel passes our strength tests, with a 23.2% CET1 ratio and an Aa3 deposit rating from Moody’s. We left it out only because its private-clients business, about CHF 140 billion of its CHF 252.2 billion, is smaller than those of the Swiss banks above. See our report on Vontobel’s 2026 results.
• EFG International manages CHF 196.3 billion and is rated A by Fitch, but Moody’s moved its outlook to negative in March 2026. Our EFG half-year review explains why.
• Zürcher Kantonalbank carries AAA ratings backed by the canton of Zurich, but it serves mainly Swiss residents. Our article on private banking vs retail banking explains where its private-banking tier begins.
• UOB Private Bank belongs to a strongly rated group, but UOB does not publish separate figures for its private bank, so we could not assess it on the same basis.

Five questions to ask a private bank before you sign

1. Which legal entity will book my account, and in which country? This matters because ratings, deposit protection and the law that applies all depend on it.
2. What are that entity’s ratings and capital ratio today? Ask for the latest disclosure rather than the group’s marketing summary.
3. How are my securities held, and what happens to my cash? Securities in custody are segregated, but cash is a claim on the bank: protected only up to CHF 100,000 in Switzerland, S$100,000 in Singapore, US$250,000 in the US or £120,000 in the UK.
4. What will I pay in total? Ask for an all-in cost illustration covering advice or mandate fees, custody, product costs and foreign exchange. Our guide to Swiss bank fees shows what to look for.
5. What happens if I move country or the bank changes its policy? Banks exit markets and raise minimums, as 2025 and 2026 have shown. Know your notice period and how assets would be transferred.

Questions about the best private banks

Which is the best private bank in the world in 2026?

There is no single answer, because the awards disagree: Euromoney named DBS Private Bank the world’s best private bank in 2026, whereas PWM named JPMorgan’s private bank the best global private bank in 2025, and UBS has the largest wealth business by invested assets. The best private bank for you depends on where you live, how much you bring and what you need.

Which private banks are the safest?

On ratings, JPMorgan, DBS and OCBC’s Bank of Singapore stand out, with AA-range ratings from all three agencies. On capital, Lombard Odier (30.5% CET1), Hoare’s (22.7%), UBP (22.5% Tier 1) and Pictet (21.2%) lead. However, only cash deposits are exposed to the bank; securities in custody are segregated.

How much money do you need for a private bank?

Published entry levels range from about £1 million at Hoare’s to US$5 million at DBS and Bank of Singapore, and US$20 million for Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management. For non-resident clients, however, the practical level at Swiss banks is often CHF 3 to 10 million.

Are Swiss private banks still the best for HNWIs?

Switzerland still books about US$2.9 trillion of cross-border wealth and its leading banks are among the best capitalised in the world. Hong Kong has caught up and Singapore is growing faster, so for Asian families an Asian booking centre may now be the better choice.

Can US citizens open accounts with Swiss or Singapore private banks?

Yes, but usually only through affiliates registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and often with higher minimums. As a result, most US persons start with a US private bank and add an offshore relationship for a specific purpose.

Is it better to use one private bank or several?

Many HNWIs spread their money across more than one of the best private banks. In fact, Capgemini found that only 19% worked with a single wealth firm in 2025. Two banks in different booking centres spread counterparty risk and give you an alternative if one bank changes its policy.

How often is this review updated?

We update the figures after each half-year and full-year reporting season and whenever a bank’s rating, ownership or regulatory position changes materially.

How we built this review

Figures come from the banks’ half-year 2026 reports, Q2 2026 SEC filings for the US groups, Hoare’s annual report to 31 March 2026, the rating pages of the banks and agencies, and the market reports cited. We converted Swiss francs, sterling and Singapore dollars into US dollars at the ECB reference rates for 30 June 2026 where a bank did not give a dollar figure itself. Ratings were checked on 9 October 2026. Entry levels marked as estimates come from our own client files and are the highest level we have cited in our articles.

You are welcome to cite this review, the tables or the charts. Please credit: Easy Global Banking, “Best Private Banks for HNWIs in 2026”, updated 9 October 2026, with a link to this page.

About the author. Asel Mamytova is Managing Partner of Easy Global Banking and has more than a decade of experience in wealth management, including several years at an institutional asset management firm in Zug. She also holds SwissComply certificates in combating money laundering and in cross-border business, and leads the team that prepares client files for banks in Switzerland and Singapore. Our firm profile explains how we work, and our Swiss account opening service and fees are set out on our site. The Swiss Banking Guide 2026 gives the wider picture.

Sources

Bank reports, filings and ratings

• UBS: second-quarter 2026 results
• UBS: credit ratings
• Swiss Parliament: Council of States vote on UBS capital, 23 September 2026
• Pictet: first-half 2026 figures
• Pictet: corporate ratings
• Lombard Odier: interim report 2026
• Lombard Odier: Pillar 3 disclosure, June 2026
• Lombard Odier: statement on the Federal Criminal Court ruling
• Julius Baer: 2026 half-year results
• Julius Baer: financial strength and ratings
• FINMA: conclusion of enforcement proceedings against Julius Baer, 29 September 2026
• UBP: 2026 half-year results
• UBP: about the bank and its ratings
• LGT: half-year results 2026
• LGT: financial stability data and ratings
• DBS: second-quarter 2026 results
• DBS Private Bank: client eligibility
• OCBC: first-half 2026 results
• Bank of Singapore: services for individuals
• JPMorgan Chase: Q2 2026 earnings supplement
• JPMorgan Chase: Q2 2026 Form 10-Q
• Goldman Sachs: Q2 2026 Form 10-Q
• Morgan Stanley: Q2 2026 financial supplement
• Morgan Stanley: Q2 2026 Form 10-Q
• Citigroup: Q2 2026 Form 10-Q
• Citi Private Bank: FAQ
• Bank of America: Q2 2026 results
• NatWest Group: results centre
• NatWest Group: credit ratings
• Barclays: H1 2026 results
• Barclays: credit ratings
• HSBC Holdings: interim report 2026
• HSBC: credit ratings
• C. Hoare & Co.: annual report 2026

Market data, awards and press

• Capgemini: World Wealth Report 2026, press release
• Capgemini: World Wealth Report 2026
• BCG: Global Wealth Report 2026
• BCG: Hong Kong surpasses Switzerland, 27 May 2026
• UBS: Global Wealth Report 2026
• Knight Frank: Wealth Sizing Model 2026
• Swiss Bankers Association: Banking Barometer 2026
• MAS: written reply on single family offices, August 2026
• finews.asia: 2025 Private Banking AUM League Table
• Euromoney: Private Banking Awards 2026
• PWM / The Banker: Global Private Banking Awards 2025
• Spear’s: the entry points of private banking, April 2026
• SWI swissinfo.ch: Julius Baer tells smaller clients to add funds or go, December 2025
• The Edge: Fitch affirms Singapore banks at AA-
• European Central Bank: reference rates, 30 June 2026

This review is general information, not investment, legal or tax advice, and not an offer or recommendation of any bank. Ratings, capital ratios and entry levels change, while each bank decides independently whom it accepts. Check the current position with the bank and take professional advice before acting.