Swiss investment firm Vontobel is set to open a new branch in Düsseldorf in 2026, further strengthening its presence in Germany and sharpening its focus on high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and family offices in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The move marks a continuation of Vontobel’s selective growth strategy in key European markets. Germany already represents a core market for the firm, where it serves private clients via Munich and Hamburg, while institutional activities and its European structured products business are centered in Frankfurt.  

«With this step, we are consistently pursuing our strategy of investing selectively in growth,» said Christel Rendu de Lint and Georg Schubiger, Co-CEOs of Vontobel. «Germany is a key market for us in Europe. North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the country’s most important and dynamic regions.»

Targeting a Key Wealth Hub

Düsseldorf, with its long-standing wealth management tradition and proximity to a dense network of industrial, commercial, and service-oriented enterprises, is a logical next step for the Zurich-based firm. The new branch will focus on delivering tailored investment solutions to affluent private clients and family offices in the region.

Vontobel will leverage its global investment platform, supported by more than 300 investment professionals worldwide, to serve clients locally while maintaining international diversification capabilities.  

Jean-Pierre Stillhart, Head of Private Clients DACH and member of the Executive Management Board of Bank Vontobel, emphasized the strategic rationale: «As an internationally active Swiss wealth manager, we offer our clients in Germany an additional perspective and diversification opportunity.»

The firm has initiated the search for a central Düsseldorf location and is actively recruiting experienced advisers and teams aligned with its long-term investment philosophy and conservative risk culture.

Scaling a Cross-Border Wealth Model

The expansion underlines Vontobel’s cross-border wealth management model, allowing German clients to custody assets either domestically or in Switzerland. Currently, around 20 investment professionals in Munich and Hamburg, supported by specialists in Zurich, serve German-based clients.  

By the end of 2025, Vontobel reported over EUR 130 billion in assets under management from private clients globally, highlighting the scale of its wealth management franchise.  

The Düsseldorf initiative reinforces a broader industry trend: Swiss private banks are selectively expanding in Germany to capture structurally attractive wealth pools, particularly among entrepreneurial clients and family offices seeking international diversification and advisory-driven mandates.