Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) announced on March 4 that its Singapore branch UBP Singapore has received regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for a wholesale bank license. UBP Singapore expects to commence operations as a wholesale bank from 1 April 2019.

The new license will allow UBP Singapore to offer Singapore dollar services, including deposits and loans, within the prescribed regulatory guidelines for wholesale banks, and provide a wider set of investment solutions to domestic clients in Singapore.

“We welcome the approval from the MAS for the upgrade of the license for our Singapore branch. The upgraded license underlines our commitment to Singapore, the region and our clients. We see great potential in Asia for our unique Wealth and Asset management solutions and are excited to have the opportunity now to provide an even wider set of bespoke solutions that will better meet the needs of our clients,” said Guy de Picciotto, UBP Chief Executive Officer.

 UBP has had asset management operations in Asia for over 20 years. The bank has operated in Tokyo since 1989, Hong Kong since 1990, and Singapore since 1993, and the bank also launched its private banking business for the region with a merchant banking license on 1 November 2013. Upon completion of the transfer of Coutts International's activities in Singapore and Hong Kong in April 2016, as part of the acquisition of the Royal Bank of Scotland's international wealth management business, UBP also obtained a banking licence for a Hong Kong branch.