Pictured are (from left): Jonas Bergqvist, Head of Private Banking; Rolf Fus, General Manager of SEB’s private banking branch in Singapore
Rolf Fus, General Manager of SEB’s private banking branch in Singapore, looks out on the Marina Bay from the office on the 12th floor at 50, Collyer Quay. “It is an amazing view, no doubt, and in a way it reflects the drive and energy of this exceptional place in Asia,” he says leaning forward in his chair. “But what really impressed me when I started to work with the private banking colleagues here in Singapore was the unique team spirit. This spirit is present in everything we do at SEB, and it is a great benefit for our clients.”
SEB has recently strengthened its private banking team in Singapore by appointing Rolf Fus as new General Manager and Jonas Bergqvist as Head of Private Banking. Furthermore, two more colleagues with special competencies have been employed to complement the existing team with additional knowledge in the area of investment strategy, portfolio management as well as wealth planning.
“The team is now well staffed ensuring a broad knowledge base and a higher level of pro-activity in order to support clients with international private banking needs,” says Rolf. “I myself have been in the financial industry for more than 30 years and I’m very happy that I can support the team with my long and deep experience. We will strengthen the ties between the Singapore and the Luxembourg operation, our hub in Europe, where I have been heading the Private Clients team before.”
SEB has been present in Singapore since 1979, starting with services for large corporates and financial institutions, and later adding private banking services to its portfolio. The latter developed so well that SEB upgraded the representative office to a fully fledged private banking branch in 2005.
“Among our Nordic private banking peers we are the ones with the longest presence in Singapore,” says Jonas Bergqvist, who looks back on many years of experience with international private banking in Asia as well as in Europe. “Long-term relationships are an important part of SEB’s strategy. Therefore, our commitment in Singapore has always been long-term and continues to be. We are here today, and will be here tomorrow.”
The newly enforced team is highly motivated to serve present and future clients. “Our aim is to become the preferred private bank for Nordic and German high-net-worth-individuals in our core markets Singapore and Hong Kong, as well as supporting our SEB home market clients moving to other jurisdictions across Asia,” says Rolf.
SEB offers a broad platform of competencies and investment opportunities to Nordic and German private banking clients living in the Asia-Pacific region. High ethical and moral standards as well as compliance with the regulatory requirements are a natural part of the holistic approach in order to ensure a secure investment environment for the customer.
“We appreciate the stable political climate in Singapore, and the regulatory and legal systems which are regarded among the best in the world,” Jonas adds. “They are one of the reasons why SEB chose the island state as its private banking hub in Asia.”
One of the main projects during the year is to further develop the digital banking experience for private banking customers. “Everybody is going digital, and tablets and smartphones have become an integral part of our life,” Rolf comments. “An enhanced online banking platform is a natural complement to our sophisticated offering, and we are working full speed on the developments in order to introduce the upgrade to our customers in the months to come.”
With a sparkle in his eyes he continues: “I’m convinced that we have the right team with the right mix of competences in order to support our customer’s growth ambitions. Our aim is to enable them to achieve their aspirations and succeed in a cross-border environment – through SEB’s professional and personal client experience.”
