Banks leverage off private wealth arms

Banks in Asia have been leveraging off their private banking arms to generate investment banking deal flow. In the post-global financial crisis world, banks are required to do more with less. The days of easy returns are gone amid rising competition and dwindling fee pools. Banks are forced to play to their strengths and, as such, those with private banking arms have placed a greater emphasis on cross-selling services to their wealthy clients.

Wealth has been growing rapidly in the region. According to a joint study by Wealth-X and UBS in September, Asia boasted the largest billionaire wealth increase over the past year, with the region’s billionaire fortunes growing by...