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Adam Abdellaoui
Of Counsel
Your consultant
How to Open an Account with REYL Intesa Sanpaolo (formerly REYL & Cie Ltd)
Date of last update: 12 January 2026
REYL Intesa Sanpaolo represents a distinctive chapter in Swiss private banking—a Geneva-based institution founded in 1973 that evolved from an independent boutique into a strategic asset of one of Europe's largest banking groups. Since Fideuram – Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking acquired a controlling stake in May 2021, the bank operates as the Swiss wealth management hub for the Italian financial conglomerate while maintaining its entrepreneurial DNA and multi-jurisdictional presence across ten financial centres.
+41 (44) 5152530
REYL Intesa Sanpaolo
Swiss private banking hub of Fideuram – Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking. A hybrid model combining boutique agility with pan-European institutional scale.
Headquarters
Geneva
Founded 1973
Ownership Interest
41.6%
Held by Intesa Sanpaolo Group
Assets Under Management
CHF 18.1bn
CHF 38.7bn incl. minority interests
Private Client Threshold
~CHF 1-5M
Estimated liquid assets
Multi-Jurisdictional Presence
Switzerland (Core)
Geneva (HQ) Operational headquarters, executive committee, and main wealth management teams.
Zurich Access to German-speaking market and multinational corporations.
Lugano Serves Italian-speaking clients.
International Network
- London: Focus on UK non-doms and cross-border structuring.
- Luxembourg: EU booking centre and fund administration.
- Singapore: Targeting Asian entrepreneurs and family offices.
- Dubai: Multi-family office platform for Middle East (DIFC).
- Malta: Custody services for alternative structures.
Core Business Lines
REYL operates five complementary business lines focusing on entrepreneurial clients:
Wealth Management
Discretionary & Advisory
Corporate Finance
MA, Restructuring, Capital
Asset Services
Fund Custody & Admin
Asset Management
Thematic Strategies
Entrepreneur & Family Office
Multi-generational advisory
US Residents
Served via REYL Overseas Ltd, an SEC-registered investment advisor. Requires minimum USD 1 million investment threshold.
Account Opening Procedure
Step 1
Initial Consultation
Discussion of objectives and assessment of regulatory risk appetite fit.
Step 2
KYC Documentation
Submission of notarized passports, proof of address, and source of wealth records.
Step 3
Compliance Review
PEP screening, sanctions checks, and verification of beneficial owners.
Step 4
Activation
Allocation of custody numbers, online access setup, and initial funding.
Estimated Timelines
2–4 Weeks Transparent wealth / EU/US Residents
6–12 Weeks Complex structures / Multi-jurisdictional
Maria Werner
Of Counsel – specialized in corporate law and tax law
info@goldblum.ch
+41 (44) 5152530
Strategic Analysis
Advantages
- ✓ Institutional Backing Access to Intesa Sanpaolo's €372.5bn platform, capital base, and distribution network.
- ✓ Entrepreneurial Autonomy Minority partner ownership preserves boutique decision-making speed.
- ✓ Multi-Jurisdictional Presence in 10 financial centres enables diverse wealth structuring.
Risks & Challenges
- ! Compliance Concerns Formal FINMA enforcement investigation opened January 2024 regarding due diligence deficiencies.
- ! High Entry Threshold Minimum asset requirements (est. CHF 1–5 million) exclude mass-affluent clients.
Regulatory Monitor
FINMA Enforcement Investigation ACTIVE
January 2024 – Present
Formal investigation opened by FINMA following summer 2023 on-site inspection. Focus includes systemic deficiencies in AML controls and enhanced due diligence for politically exposed persons (PEPs). No public sanctions announced as of January 2026.
The Cahuzac Affair CLOSED
2013 – 2016
Conviction by Paris criminal court (Dec 2016) for "complicity in tax fraud concealment" concerning former French minister Jérôme Cahuzac. Bank fined €1.875 million for assisting in shielding assets from tax enforcement.
Frequently asked questions
REYL Intesa Sanpaolo is a Swiss private bank founded in 1973 in Geneva, specializing in wealth management, corporate finance, and asset services for international entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals. Since May 2021, Fideuram – Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking has held a controlling stake.
As at 30 September 2024, the Intesa Sanpaolo Group held 41.626% of REYL & Cie. The remaining shares are held by REYL's founding partners and management.
The bank's headquarters is located at Rue du Rhône 4, CH-1204 Geneva, Switzerland.
REYL targets high-net-worth individuals and does not publish official minimum asset requirements. Based on industry analysis, the practical threshold typically ranges from CHF 1 million to CHF 5 million in liquid assets.
REYL operates five integrated business lines: Wealth Management, Private Banking, Corporate Finance, Asset Services, and Asset Management.
REYL & Cie SA holds a Swiss banking licence and is supervised by FINMA and the Swiss National Bank. However, prospective clients should note that FINMA opened a formal enforcement investigation in January 2024 regarding anti-money laundering controls.
Yes, REYL maintains a multi-jurisdictional platform with offices in Geneva, Zurich, Lugano, London, Luxembourg, Malta, Singapore, and Dubai. The bank serves clients from diverse jurisdictions.
In December 2016, a French court convicted REYL & Cie of complicity in tax fraud concealment related to former French budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac's undeclared offshore accounts. The bank was fined €1.875 million.
The partnership provides REYL clients with access to the institutional capabilities of a €372.5 billion private banking group, including investment banking deal flow, structured credit products, and distribution across 25 countries.
REYL faces three primary challenges: an ongoing FINMA enforcement investigation into anti-money laundering controls initiated in January 2024; profitability pressure, with operating income declining 21% in 2024; and integration complexities with Intesa Sanpaolo.
REYL combines discretionary management, advisory services, and execution-only models, with access to alternative investments through its corporate finance division and Intesa Sanpaolo's institutional network.
Yes, through REYL Overseas Ltd, an SEC-registered investment advisor with a minimum investment threshold of USD 1 million.
Straightforward cases may complete in 2–4 weeks, while complex structures can extend to 6–12 weeks depending on client complexity and jurisdiction.
Yes, REYL provides M&A advisory, capital raising, refinancing, and restructuring for mid-market companies.
REYL operates under Swiss banking law, supervised by FINMA and the Swiss National Bank, with cross-border clients subject to OECD CRS and US FATCA frameworks.
Adam Abdellaoui
Your personal contact
Of Counsel
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