Trafina Privatbank

What Trafina Privatbank does

Trafina Privatbank AG is a Basel-headquartered, fully licensed Swiss private bank (Privatbank AG) founded in 1991, with origins tracing back to the 1930 Hansa AG family office of Hans von Opel. The bank serves high-net-worth private individuals, institutional clients, and charitable foundations in the Nordwestschweiz (North-West Switzerland) region, with a particular specialization in foundation advisory reflecting Basel's status as Europe's 'foundation capital'. Its product platform is centered on a discretionary Vermögensverwaltung (wealth management mandate) and Anlageberatung (investment advisory), supplemented by an SSL/TLS-encrypted E-Banking portal, the Luxembourg-domiciled Trafina Worldtrend Fund (distributed in CH, LU, DE, AT), and a suite of advisory services covering Finanzplan, Nachlassplanung, Vorsorgeplanung, Stiftungsberatung, and tax optimization.

The business model is relationship-driven and bespoke: pricing is not publicly disclosed, fees are negotiated per mandate, and acquisition occurs through partner-led Kundenberatung, community engagement, and content marketing rather than mass-market channels. Revenue is dominated by recurring commission and service fees (~CHF 7.3M in 2025), supplemented by trading income (~CHF 0.5M) and interest from own-account financial investments (~CHF 0.3M). Total operating income in 2025 was approximately CHF 8.8 million against CHF 6 million of operating expenses, producing CHF 2.8 million in net profit. The bank is exceptionally well-capitalized (~16-23% equity ratio over 2023-2025, multiple times statutory minimums), is a member of esisuisse, and operates under FIDLEG and FINMA supervision.

Trafina is structured around four partners (Jean-Nicolas Fahrenberg, Dominik Nussbaumer, Matthias Wirz, and since April 2026 Michael Dreier with a 3% stake) and a five-member Verwaltungsrat (most recently refreshed in May 2026 with the appointment of Dr. Thomas Weibel). The bank is co-located with the Sophie und Karl Binding Stiftung at Rennweg 50, Basel — a foundational anchor relationship whose family office was the bank's predecessor. Client AUM reached a record CHF 1.71 billion at year-end 2025 (vs ~CHF 1.4B in 2023), with CHF 85 million in 2025 net new money. No venture, private equity, or public-market ownership is disclosed; the franchise is privately held and partner-controlled.

Name

Trafina Privatbank

Legal name

Trafina Privatbank AG

Website

https://trafina.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trafina Privatbank AG is a Basel-based, fully licensed Swiss private bank serving high-net-worth individuals, institutional clients, and charitable foundations in the Nordwestschweiz region through bespoke wealth management mandates, investment advisory, and a proprietary Luxembourg-domiciled fund.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Banking

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (525920)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Banking Advisory & Discretionary Portfolio Management (FSABADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Wealth Management (FSAEABAA), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)

Keywords

• Private banking services
• Wealth management
• Investment advisory
• Estate planning
• Asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Commission and Service Business (Kommissions- und Dienstleistungsgeschäft): The primary revenue driver. The bank charges fees and commissions for wealth management mandates and advisory services. In 2025 this stream generated CHF 7.3 million, up from the prior year due to higher client assets under management.
2. Trading Revenue (Handelsgeschäft): Revenue generated from securities trading activities conducted on behalf of clients. Contributed approximately CHF 0.5 million to business success in 2025.
3. Interest Business (Zinsgeschäft): Revenue from the long-term management of the bank's own financial investments (Finanzanlagen). In 2025 contributed approximately CHF 0.3 million. Note: This is separate from traditional interest income, which fell to CHF 1.2 million in 2025 due to lower money market rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Trafina Privatbank AG operates as a Basel-based boutique Swiss private bank delivering bespoke discretionary wealth management mandates, investment advisory, and a coordinated suite of financial, estate, pension, tax, and charitable-foundation advisory services to private individuals, institutional clients, and foundations in Northwestern Switzerland. Distribution of its own Luxembourg-domiciled Trafina Worldtrend Fund and secure E-Banking access complement the relationship-driven advisory model.

Product overview

Trafina Privatbank AG is a Basel-based private bank with a full banking license, offering a unified wealth management and advisory platform centered on its core Vermögensverwaltung (wealth management mandate) and Anlageberatung (investment advisory) services. The bank provides a coordinated suite of advisory offerings that include Finanzplan (financial planning), Nachlassplanung (estate planning), Stiftungsberatung (charitable foundation advisory), Vorsorgeplanung (pension planning), and tax optimization services. Its digital channel is the E-Banking Portal. For investment products, the bank distributes the Trafina Worldtrend Fund, a Luxembourg-domiciled investment fund. The portfolio is delivered through a team of relationship managers and partners based in Basel, targeting private clients, institutional clients, and charitable foundations in the Basel/Northwest Switzerland region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vermögensverwaltung (Wealth Management Mandate) A discretionary wealth management mandate in which Trafina invests client assets across equities, bonds, real estate funds, and liquidity, with asset allocation determined by each client's customized financial plan. Targeted at private and institutional clients seeking long-term, professionally managed portfolios.
• Anlageberatung (Investment Advisory) Long-term investment advisory service in which Trafina advises clients on asset allocation strategies aligned with their financial plans, risk capacity, and risk tolerance. Targeted at private and institutional clients who retain discretion over investment decisions.
• E-Banking Portal A secure, SSL/TLS-encrypted online banking portal enabling Trafina clients to access their accounts, execute transactions, and receive statements electronically. Targeted at the bank's private and institutional clients.
• Trafina Worldtrend Fund (Baumann & Cie Partner Fonds (Lux) FCP) A Luxembourg-domiciled investment fund managed through Trafina's investment expertise and distributed by the bank in Switzerland, Luxembourg, Germany, and Austria, investing across global asset classes. Targeted at qualified investors across the bank's distribution markets.
• Finanzplan (Financial Planning) A customized financial planning service that estimates future income and expenses, assesses current and future wealth, and establishes a tailored long-term investment strategy based on the client's risk capacity and risk tolerance. Targeted at private clients building long-term wealth.
• Nachlassplanung (Estate Planning) Estate planning services including inheritance law advice, spousal benefits, testamentary arrangements, and heir education, as well as tax-efficient withdrawal and estate planning of pension funds (including analysis of proposed Swiss capital withdrawal tax reforms). Aimed at ensuring financial security for surviving spouses and smooth wealth transfer to heirs.
• Stiftungsberatung (Charitable Foundation Advisory) Specialized advisory services for charitable foundations including investment management, administrative support, and guidance on revised Swiss foundation law, with access to an umbrella foundation (Dachstiftung) via the Sophie & Karl Binding Stiftung. Targeted at Swiss charitable foundations.
• Vorsorgeplanung (Pension Planning) Retirement planning services covering early retirement options, pension fund lump-sum versus annuity decisions, pillar 3a tax optimization, and deferred capital withdrawal strategies. Targeted at private clients approaching or in retirement.
• Steuervorauszahlungen (Tax Prepayments Advisory) Tax optimization advisory for inter-cantonal tax prepayment strategies, particularly in Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, designed to reduce taxable wealth before year-end. Targeted at private clients with significant taxable assets in Northwestern Switzerland.
• Liquiditäts- und Solvenzberatung (Liquidity and Solvency Advisory) Advisory service distinguishing between liquidity and solvency for private and institutional clients, emphasizing long-term investment discipline over short-term market reactions. Targeted at the bank's existing private and institutional clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client assets grew from ~CHF 1.5 billion (2024) to ~CHF 1.71 billion (2025), a record high
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Baumann & Cie, Banquiers (St. Jakobs-Strasse 46, CH-4052 Basel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBaumann & Cie acts as the Zahlstelle (paying agent/custodian) for the Baumann & Cie Partner Fonds (Lux) FCP - Trafina Worldtrend Fund. The fund is the bank's proprietary investment fund product. Trafina is part of the Baumann & Cie partner fund structure.
• PMG Fonds Management AG (Sihlstrasse 95, CH-8001 Zürich)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPMG Fonds Management AG is the fund management company (Fondsleitung) for the Trafina Worldtrend Fund. It manages the legal and administrative aspects of the fund, with Trafina providing the investment strategy and management.
• Sophie und Karl Binding StiftungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sophie und Karl Binding Stiftung co-locates with Trafina at Rennweg 50/52 in Basel (owning the property). The foundation's origins are directly linked to Trafina's — the foundation's family office was the predecessor of today's bank. The bank provides investment management services to the foundation. The foundation's CHF 3.25 million annual granting budget makes it a significant local philanthropic institution. The bank's clients include charitable foundations, and this relationship provides both commercial and reputational value.
• VISCHER AG (Basel)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Thomas Weibel, who was elected to Trafina's Supervisory Board (Verwaltungsrat) in May 2026, is a partner at VISCHER AG, a leading Basel-based commercial law firm specializing in financial industry regulatory matters. His appointment brings legal and regulatory expertise to the bank's governance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bank Julius Bär & Co. AG: A major Swiss private banking group offering global wealth management services — comparable in product categories (discretionary mandates, advisory, eBanking) but significantly larger and broader than Trafina (former employer of Trafina advisor Olaf Zehnder).
• Mirabaud Group: A Geneva-based Swiss private bank with wealth management, asset management, and corporate advisory — comparable in client focus (HNW individuals, families, foundations) but operating internationally at much larger scale.
• Vontobel Holding AG: A Zurich-headquartered Swiss wealth and asset manager with private banking, investment advisory, and fund distribution — overlapping service lines (private client wealth management and proprietary fund products) but operating at materially greater scale than Trafina.
• Lombard Odier Group: A Geneva-headquartered Swiss private bank offering wealth management, asset management, and technology services — provides comparable HNW advisory and discretionary mandates but at significantly larger AUM and broader geographic footprint.
• Pictet Group: A Geneva-based Swiss private bank and asset manager (CHF ~700B AUM) — directly comparable in core private banking services (discretionary mandates, investment advisory, estate/foundation advisory) but at vastly greater scale and international reach than Trafina.

Direct peers

• E. Gutzwiller & Cie, Banquiers: Basel-headquartered boutique Swiss private bank focused on wealth management for private clients and foundations — directly comparable in geography, scale, and foundation/HNW client focus to Trafina (Dominik Nussbaumer is a former employee).
• Hyposwiss Privatbank AG: Zurich-based boutique Swiss private bank with a long-standing focus on wealth management for private clients and foundations — closely comparable in service model and foundation/HNW specialization, though geographically centered in Zurich rather than Basel.
• Scobag Privatbank AG: A small Basel-based Swiss private bank offering wealth management and advisory services — directly comparable in size, product scope (Vermögensverwaltung + Anlageberatung), and target segments (HNW and foundations).
• Bank Ehinger & Cie AG: A Basel-based Swiss private bank focused on asset management and advisory for private clients and foundations — a direct boutique peer with similar client profile, scale, and Basel regional focus (former employer of multiple Trafina partners).
• Baumann & Cie, Banquiers: A Basel-based independent Swiss private bank offering wealth management and asset servicing to private clients and foundations — directly comparable in size, geography, and product mix to Trafina, and also the Zahlstelle (paying agent) for Trafina's Worldtrend Fund.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trafina-privatbank-ag
• Facebookfacebook.com/112040925479924

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trafina Privatbank