Asia’s high‑net‑worth (HNW) population is expanding at one of the fastest rates in the world. Driven by resilient asset markets, rising entrepreneurship and strong cross‑border wealth flows, the surge is reshaping the landscape for private banks competing on the mid‑to‑upper wealth tiers. DBS Private Bank is pulling ahead in the race.
The bank has engineered a proposition built around speed, access, depth of product and seamless digital delivery – the attributes sought by Asia’s expanding ranks of HNW clients.
DBS’s HNW offering begins with an onboarding and engagement model built expressly for clients who demand agility. During the review period, the bank delivered strong double‑digit net new money growth from HNW clients, supported by a dedicated onboarding channel that can compress account‑opening times by almost half. This speed is critical for HNW clients who need to pivot and deploy capital quickly in fast‑moving Asian markets.
Across investment access, digital delivery, structured solutions and client experience, DBS has built the most complete and relevant HNW platform in Asia
Once on board, HNW clients benefit from one of Asia’s most comprehensive investment platforms. DBS recorded a market-leading growth in managed solutions subscriptions, driven by HNW adoption across mutual funds, evergreen funds, hedge fund strategies and semi‑liquid private market vehicles.
The bank’s discretionary portfolio management (DPM) platform is a major draw for HNW clients seeking institutional‑calibre portfolio construction. DBS added hundreds of new discretionary mandates during the review period, significantly raising DPM assets under management with growing uptake from HNW households. Clients investing S$5 million ($3.9 million) or more can engage directly with portfolio managers and access bespoke structured notes tied to private equity, giving them institutional-quality access at accessible thresholds.
Diversification edge
Alternatives are another defining strength. The Private Assets Club, now with more than 1,500 members, facilitated hundreds of millions of Singapore dollars in direct investments into high‑profile global growth companies, including SpaceX, OpenAI and ScaleAI. Evergreen private markets funds, private credit strategies and co‑investments have helped to broaden HNW diversification far beyond standard public-market exposure.
Digital capabilities are a core differentiator for HNWs seeking speed, autonomy and insight. Digital platform usage among HNW clients of DBS Private grew significantly, with active traders nearly tripling. DBS’s digibank platform allows clients to trade 24/7, view traditional and digital assets in one dashboard, and respond rapidly to volatility – an expectation that defines modern HNW behaviour.
DBS’s continuum-based relationship model also gives it a structural advantage. Today, a large proportion of private banking clients – many in the HNW tier – have progressed internally from DBS’s affluent segments, reflecting deepening trust and wallet share over time.
Across investment access, digital delivery, structured solutions and client experience, DBS has built the most complete and relevant HNW platform in Asia. As the region continues to generate wealth at one of the fastest rates globally, DBS stands unrivalled as the best private bank for HNW individuals.
