EFG Private Banking in Gstaad has moved from Promenade 25 to a newly built chalet at Promenade 2a. Since end-December 2024, Manuel Blanco, branch manager of EFG in Gstaad, and his team are welcoming their clients in a premium location. The fact that one of the global private banking group’s newest branches is located in Gstaad is no coincidence.

Gstaad is more than just a famous holiday destination. The village, which became world-renowned with the arrival of the railway in 1904 and the construction of the Gstaad Palace in 1913, has long been an iconic location. In Gstaad, winter sports meet wellness, and fame and Swiss discretion exist side by side, with celebrities spending their holidays in the village. Since the pandemic, more and more people have their permanent home in Gstaad.
The popularity of Gstaad among wealthy visitors and residents has also increased its importance as a private banking location. Manuel Blanco, Head of Gstaad and Greater Berne Area at EFG Private Banking, has been working in the region’s respective business for over 20 years. Understanding clients’ wishes and what matters to them, he has built up an extensive network of client relationships as well as professional partnerships with complementary sectors such as relocation and real estate advisors. Many such partnerships develop quite naturally in Gstaad. The international boarding school Le Rosey, whose students come from over 60 different nations, or the JFK School Foundation, where Manuel Blanco is a board member, are just two examples. With Gstaad Saanen Airport on the doorstep, international visitors have easy access to the alpine resort.

EFG, a leading Swiss private banking group with global reach and a strong culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, established its presence in Gstaad in January 2024 and recruited Manuel Blanco to manage the new branch. Part of the bank’s client-centric approach is the valued partnership with clients, driven by tailored solutions and senior expertise. This partnership combines local know-how with a global network and best-in-class advice and execution.

Reflected by recent luxury property market developments, Gstaad has been growing increasingly popular in the last few years since the pandemic: A number of wealthy people in search of a haven realised that they could make this exclusive holiday destination their permanent residence.

Residents and visitors in general appreciate the discretion and safe environment that Gstaad offers. They also appreciate the fact that everything they need is close by, including first-class schools and the freedom to move independently.

Manuel Blanco affirms the importance for clients to feel comfortable and at home when using EFG’s private banking services, which was one of the considerations when the new chalet-style Gstaad branch was being developed and built at Promenade 2a. The chalet has been completely rebuilt and offers ample space for clients and employees across three floors. The interior designer has incorporated the same design elements which characterise all of EFG’s new branches – including circular lamps integrated into the ceiling to provide warm and subtle lighting, adapted to the local Gstaad settings and covered with locally sourced woods.

Behind the newly opened EFG branch, the Gstaad Palace overlooks the village, exuding timeless luxury, similar to the Grand Hotel Baur au Lac on Lake Zurich, which − like the Gstaad Palace − is a member of the “Leading Hotels of the World” organisation founded in 1928 by European hoteliers. It was fitting that Manuel Blanco won two of four prestigious Citywire Private Banking Awards at a ceremony at the Baur au Lac at the end of October 2024 – the “Best German speaking Private Banker Award” and “Best Male Private Banker Switzerland Award”. This was a great honour not only for Manuel Blanco and his experienced team but also for Gstaad as an international private banking location.

EFG Bank

Promenade 2a | 3780 Gstaad
+41 58 808 3850
www.efginternational.com