DBS wins Euromoney's top honour as the 'World's Best Private Bank' in triple global award sweep

Also recognised as the inaugural winner in the ‘World’s Safest Private Bank’ and ‘World’s Best for Digital Assets’ categories

Photo credits: Euromoney

“Our recognition of DBS as the World’s Best Private Bank reflects a simple truth: the future of private banking belongs to institutions that combine performance with resilience – and DBS has done so at a level few can match. Anchored in Singapore and backed by one of the industry’s strongest AA-rated balance sheets, the bank has doubled AUM in five years, a testament to the trust clients increasingly place in the DBS wealth management franchise. Its distinctive ‘One Bank’ approach, combined with several world-first capabilities – from its DBS Foundry VCCto its institutional-grade digital asset platform that support legacy planning – has set the benchmark for leadership, innovation and competitiveness in global private banking,” said Euromoney in its award citation.

In 2025, the bank’s wealth management franchise continued its record-breaking streak, with total wealth management income rising 9% to SGD 5.7 billion, buoyed by record net new money inflows and fee income. Wealth management non-interest income climbed 27% to SGD 3.3 billion, outpacing several regional and global peers.

In addition, the wealth franchise also maintained a healthy balance sheet. Its cost-to-income ratio of just 46% – one of the lowest among private banks in the developed world – also underscores a franchise that combines strong profitability with efficiency.

Besides the financial outperformance, the bank was able to connect clients from new wealth corridors and enable more to progress along the wealth continuum. The key drivers included its:

• ‘One Bank’ collaboration: This approach integrates private banking, corporate banking and investment banking capabilities and expertise to serve DBS’ wealth clients, over 70% of whom are entrepreneurs and business owners. The holistic advice spans M&A, IPO listings, succession planning, philanthropy and family office structures.
• Digital Assets Ecosystem: Through the DBS Digital Exchange (DDEx) which was set up in 2021, DBS was among the first few private banks in the world to enable clients to incorporate digital assets in their portfolios. In the first half of 2025 alone, DDEx handled more than SGD 3.1 billion in crypto trades and crypto-linked instruments by wealth clients. In another first-of-its-kind move, it was also designed to support the integration of digital assets into legacy planning. DBS Trustee, the world’s first and only bank-backed trust to hold cryptocurrencies, recorded inflows exceeding SGD 2 billion last year.
• DBS Foundry VCC: DBS’ Family Office expertise continued to capture the growing demand among wealthy families for efficient but robust alternative structures to consolidate and manage their wealth. Its Multi-Family Office offering that leverages Singapore’s VCC framework, dubbed the DBS Foundry VCC, surpassed SGD 1 billion in AUM and has onboarded over 25 global clients since the 2023 launch.

Joseph Poon, Group Head of DBS Private Bank, said, "We are honoured to be recognised as World’s Best Private Bank by Euromoney. Alongside our other global, regional and segment wins, these awards speak to the foundations of private banking today: trust, resilience and innovation. They also point to a broader shift in the global wealth landscape. The centre of gravity for wealth is moving towards Asia, home to a new generation of entrepreneurs, families and global investors whose ambitions extend well beyond borders. 

Asia is not just where wealth is growing. It is also where new ideas in banking and finance are emerging. While we are proud of how far we have come, we remain focused on raising the bar further by continuing to innovate, staying close to our clients’ needs and helping shape the future of private banking.”

DBS has been recognised as a leading private bank by numerous publications, reflecting its strong position globally and across Asia. In 2025, DBS was named ‘World’s Best for HNW’ and ‘Asia’s Best Private Bank’ by Euromoney, awarded ‘Best Private Bank – Asia‑Pacific’ by Global Finance, ‘Best Private Bank – Asia’ by The Asset, and ‘Best Private Bank – Southeast Asia’ by Asian Private Banker. These accolades are a testament to DBS’ holistic wealth proposition as well as strong culture of innovation and client focus.