wiki / Mirabaud & Cie SA: Boutique Partnership Geneva Private Bank Since 1819 with Brokerage Expertise

Mirabaud & Cie SA: Boutique Partnership Geneva Private Bank Since 1819 with Brokerage Expertise

Concept

Mirabaud & Cie SA is a Geneva private bank established in 1819 and one of the few remaining partnership banks in Switzerland. By scale it is smaller than Pictet and Lombard Odier, and this defines its niche: boutique-level private banking, a lower entry threshold, and a strong brokerage component through Mirabaud Securities.

Mirabaud was founded in Geneva. Since 2014, the group has been structured as Mirabaud SCA, a Swiss corporate partnership. The group's AuM as of June 30, 2024 stood at CHF 32.4 billion, of which CHF 6.8 billion is in Asset Management (Mirabaud H1 2024 results).

The group operates through three divisions: Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Brokerage. The latter is important — Mirabaud Securities provides institutional securities trading, which distinguishes Mirabaud among Geneva partnership banks.

🍓 Mirabaud is our choice for HNW clients with CHF 2–10M in assets who need a Geneva partnership without the Pictet or Lombard Odier threshold. For UHNW with CHF 100M+ and a complex global platform, Mirabaud's smaller scale becomes a limitation.

Partnership Format and Boutique Model

Structure

Mirabaud is in the same cultural category as Pictet and Lombard Odier: private ownership, partner liability, long-term horizon, and cautious risk appetite. The smaller scale makes the relationship model more personal.

Speed and Access

Relationship managers handle fewer clients. Decisions are made closer to partners and faster. Onboarding a clean case takes 10–14 weeks: qualification, KYC, compliance review, personal meeting, activation, and first deposit.

Limitations

The alternatives platform is less extensive than Pictet's. Asian infrastructure is weaker than HSBC, DBS, or UBS Singapore. For large institutional leverage and complex structured products, universal banks are better.

Regulation and Geography

  • Main bank — FINMA, Swiss Banking Act regime.
  • Asset management — CISA.
  • Deposit protection — esisuisse up to CHF 100,000 per depositor.
  • Regional regulators — FCA UK for UK / securities, CSSF Luxembourg for funds, DFSA Dubai, CNMV Spain, AMF France, Canadian regulators.
  • Booking network — Geneva, Basel, Zurich, London, Luxembourg, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Milan, Canada, UAE, Brazil, Uruguay.

The strong Ibero-Latin American network is a distinct differentiator for Mirabaud among Geneva banks.

Thresholds and Product Role

SegmentMinimumWhat's Available
Wealth Managementfrom CHF 2Mdiscretionary / advisory mandates, custody, multi-currency
Russia-origin non-resident (de facto)CHF 3–5Msame mandate, enhanced due diligence
Mirabaud Securitiesby invitationinstitutional securities trading and execution
Asset Managementseparate mandatefunds, thematic strategies, ESG

Who Mirabaud Suits

Key Segments

  • HNW with CHF 2–10M in assets who need a Geneva private bank without Pictet-level threshold.
  • Clients for whom personal connection and boutique format matter.
  • Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking UHNW with presence in Iberia or Latin America.
  • Clients with a need for direct trading execution through Mirabaud Securities.
  • Families for whom 200+ years of continuity matters, but who don't need universal-bank scale.

Russia-Origin Requirements

  • Residency outside Russia: Switzerland, EU, UK, UAE through Mirabaud Middle East, or another acceptable jurisdiction.
  • No sanctions exposure for client and UBO under OFAC, EU, UK, Swiss FDF.
  • Tax returns for 2–3 years, statements, and documentation of wealth formation event.
  • Non-PEP and non-SOE status.
  • Personal meeting in Geneva, London, Madrid, or another booking centre.

Cases from Practice

HNW from UAE

Client with CHF 4M in assets, Dubai resident, operational business — IT consulting. Opened Wealth Management in Geneva plus a separate sub-account for seed deposit for daughter in London.

Iberian UHNW

Family with Portuguese residency, CHF 18M in assets. Mirabaud Madrid + Geneva booking, advisory mandate focused on European assets and real estate in Portugal.

Rejection for Aggressive Profile

Client with CHF 7M expected high leverage and active structured-products desk. Compliance assessed that the profile did not fit the partnership model. Redirected to Julius Baer and UBS.

Where Mirabaud Is Appropriate and Where It Doesn't Fit

Appropriate

  • HNW with CHF 2–10M and need for Geneva partnership.
  • Personal relationship model and access to partners.
  • Iberian / Latam clients with transatlantic capital.
  • Direct securities execution through Mirabaud Securities.
  • Russia-origin non-residents with clean profile and confirmed Source of Wealth.

Doesn't Fit

  • UHNW above CHF 100M+ with need for broad alternatives platform.
  • Clients with primary Asia booking need.
  • US residents.
  • Crypto-only or crypto-heavy portfolios.
  • Aggressive leverage, high-frequency trading, or complex structured-products agenda.
  • Clients with residency in Russia.

Alternatives

BankProfileMinimum
Pictetlargest Swiss partnership, broader alternativesCHF 5M
Lombard Odierpartnership, ESG-strong, family governanceCHF 5M
Julius Baerlisted pure-play wealth managerCHF 2M
UBS Global Wealth Managementuniversal bank, access to investment bankingCHF 2M
CIM Banqueentry-level Swiss for non-residentCHF 50k

Q/A

Mirabaud versus Pictet and Lombard Odier

Pictet and Lombard Odier are larger and deeper in platform breadth. Mirabaud is smaller, more personal, and more accessible at entry. Mirabaud's niche is lower HNW / boutique private banking, Ibero-Latin American relationships, and securities execution. If you need maximum institutional scale, Pictet or UBS is stronger. If you need a Geneva partnership at CHF 2–5M — Mirabaud is more practical.

How does Mirabaud approach crypto

Mirabaud, like most conservative Swiss partnership banks, does not position itself as a crypto bank. Fiat proceeds from crypto sales are considered only with documented Source of Wealth through a licensed exchange, with KYC records, bank statements, and audit. For crypto-native clients, specialized Swiss providers are better.

Where to open a relationship

Geneva — for classic Swiss wealth management. London — for UK residents and access to Mirabaud Securities. Madrid and Barcelona — for Iberian and Latin American context. Dubai — for UAE residents and the Middle East. For Asia-heavy capital, it's better to compare Mirabaud with Pictet, HSBC, UBS, or Singapore providers.

How long does onboarding take

About 10–14 weeks for a clean case: qualification, KYC, compliance review, personal meeting, activation, and initial deposit. Onboarding does not close without a personal visit.

What does Mirabaud Securities give an ordinary client

Direct access to equity execution, fixed income desk, and institutional brokerage within one bank. This removes the need to maintain a separate execution broker for active positions in stocks, bonds, and ETFs.

How does Mirabaud work with family structures

Through the wealth planning team — trust, foundation, corporate UBO, sub-accounts by generation. For families up to CHF 30M, Mirabaud works directly; for larger tasks, it integrates with external trustees in Jersey and Liechtenstein.

What is the standard team per client

One relationship manager, support from a portfolio manager and compliance officer. For large families, a wealth planner and tax coordinator are added. The team is stable over a 10+ year horizon — a distinct strength of the partnership format.


FAQ

How does Mirabaud approach crypto

Mirabaud, like most conservative Swiss partnership banks, does not position itself as a crypto bank. Fiat proceeds from crypto sales are considered only with documented Source of Wealth through a licensed exchange, with KYC records, bank statements, and audit. For crypto-native clients, specialized Swiss providers are better.

How long does onboarding take

About 10–14 weeks for a clean case: qualification, KYC, compliance review, personal meeting, activation, and initial deposit. Onboarding does not close without a personal visit.

What does Mirabaud Securities give an ordinary client

Direct access to equity execution, fixed income desk, and institutional brokerage within one bank. This removes the need to maintain a separate execution broker for active positions in stocks, bonds, and ETFs.

How does Mirabaud work with family structures

Through the wealth planning team — trust, foundation, corporate UBO, sub-accounts by generation. For families up to CHF 30M, Mirabaud works directly; for larger tasks, it integrates with external trustees in Jersey and Liechtenstein.

What is the standard team per client

One relationship manager, support from a portfolio manager and compliance officer. For large families, a wealth planner and tax coordinator are added. The team is stable over a 10+ year horizon — a distinct strength of the partnership format.

Key Factual Claims

  • Mirabaud & Cie SA is a Geneva private bank established in 1819 and one of the few remaining partnership banks in Switzerland.

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