Private bank and bank trust executives are actively implementing inorganic growth strategies, namely mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and advisor recruitment, to achieve scale in an increasingly competitive wealth management environment. Firms that can offer a wide range of services (i.e., planning, trust, banking) and a strong advisor platform will be able to compete more efficiently to serve their clients’ needs.

According to our research, more than two-thirds (68%) of private bank and bank trust executives are considering M&A opportunities to grow and adapt their businesses. Activity is being driven by the desire to achieve greater economies of scale—75% of executives cite this as their top reason. Adding more scale will not only allow firms to reduce redundancies and improve margins, but will also enable the firm to deepen existing relationships with clients. Further, as technology and service demands grow among consumers, more scaled and integrated firms will be able to provide seamless, comprehensive, and cost-competitive financial services experiences for their clients.

Beyond M&A, bank trust executives are working to expand advisor headcount—53% indicate they are actively recruiting advisors and teams from other firms. As banks look to create scaled platforms and acquire top advisor talent, one of the goals is to be viewed as competitive outside of the banking world. Firms that have adequate operational scale with a wide breadth of services and a strong advisor platform can hope to be attractive landing spots for advisors who are dissatisfied with restrictions of very large institutions but do not want to bear the burdens of a fully independent operating model. Reaching a “Goldilocks” zone where effective integration is attainable, but scale is not cumbersome, is a balance that most firms in the bank and trust space can strike.

Learn more in our latest report, U.S. Private Banks & Trust Companies 2022: Scaling for Growth.