Standard Bank Private Clients is to be renamed ‘Wealth and Investment’ to reflect its commitment to adapting its service offering to the evolving needs of its customers, as well as to align to global standards for high net worth wealth management.  

“The name change is a reflection of our shift in strategy to provide more holistic financial planning and advisory solutions around wealth creation, lifestyle requirements, wealth preservation and legacy and philanthropic ambitions,” Deon de Klerk, Head of Wealth and Investment, Africa and International, says. “This shift is in response to changes in the high net worth market, and a need to position the business more closely with international competitors.”

Wealth and Investment offers an integrated solution that includes specialised lending, risk solutions, transactional banking, trust and fiduciary services and investment solutions.  

Its investment solutions include stockbroking, fund solutions and portfolio management through boutique asset manager, Melville Douglas. 

“We follow an ‘open architecture’ approach, giving our clients access to best of breed investment solutions irrespective of investment house,” explains de Klerk. 

The business currently manages in excess of $12 billion in assets under management worldwide. 

Seven years ago, Standard Bank Private Clients was established as a separate business to Private Banking to cater to the wealth management needs of the bank’s high net worth clients who are different from the target market falling under Private Banking.

Private Banking, caters to individuals with an annual income of at least $60,000 whereas Wealth and Investment services clients who have the potential for investable assets in excess of $1 million.  

A key differentiator for Wealth and Investment is its Future Leaders’ Academy, launched last year to pass on money management and entrepreneurial skills to the younger generation. 

“The feedback from our clients was so positive that this year we are also hosting the Future Leaders Academy (18-24 year olds) and the Young Leaders Academy (13 – 17 year olds) in London,” says De Klerk. 

He continues: “Our Leadership Academies honour our purpose of banking the family and our belief in empowering the next generation of leaders. We invite the family members of our clients to deepen their knowledge of financial literacy, investing, leadership and philanthropy in an interactive and engaging learning experience.”

 “The past seven years have been about establishing the business, getting it right, and building deep, meaningful engagements with clients. Our focus has always been on delivering uncompromising ‘before the sun sets’ service to our clients, and that commitment remains. We now have a footprint throughout South Africa and in Kenya, Nigeria, Mauritius, London and Jersey and can truly offer clients a seamless solution for their on and offshore financial planning needs.”

Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets and earnings. Its strategy is to build the leading African-focused financial services organisation using all its competitive advantages to the full. It operates in 20 countries on the African continent, including South Africa.

The group’s largest shareholder is Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank.