Private Banking's Squeezed Middle Devise New Strategies

LONDON, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Private bankers in emerging areas of Europe are seeing the middle segment of their market squeezed with only the biggest and the boutiques surviving, the Private Banking in CEE, SEE & CIS conference - partnered by World Finance - will discuss when it convenes in June. 

Significant challenges exist for the private banking market. In a climate in which bankers' credibility could hardly sink lower, those working in private wealth management enjoy perhaps the meanest of reputations. This image issue coincides with tightening regulation, which is proving a preventative measure to business expansion. Meanwhile, the dominance of Swiss banks and asset managers has made it tough for other European banks to gain a share of all but the low end and niche sectors of the market.  

With these challenges, EBCG's private banking conference is set to focus on the new strategies emerging from the CEE region. With privacy and political risk compelling reasons to look for an asset manager in Western Europe, banks in countries such as Austria are experiencing a significant rise in clients travelling across borders to deposit assets. As such, asset managers are focusing on wealthy individuals from countries such as Hungary, Russia, Kazakhstan and Romania as potential new markets. Further east, private banks in the Balkans are turning to incentivised accounts to attract new clients, while Southeastern European banks are focusing on offering retail banking services for those they hope will develop into high-net worth individuals.

These new opportunities will provide the focus of discussions at EBCG's second annual Private Banking in CEE, SEE & CIS conference. Held on June 5th and 6th at the picturesque Lindner Hotel Prague Castle, private bankers, insurance companies, fund managers and a range of financial experts will meet to network and discuss strategies for wealth management with leading industry figures, in what is set to be an important event on the banking calendar.

A limited number of tickets remain available for the event, with readers of World Finance able to request a special discount for tickets. For more information and to request the full program of events and speakers, visit http://www.ebcg.biz. To find out more or to contact the organizers, please e-mail pb@ebcg.biz.

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