BUSINESS
Comment votre plateforme Global Custody participe-t-elle à améliorer l’ expérience client? Bank One a investi dans un nouveau logiciel conçu pour déployer son offre d’ architecture ouverte( open architecture) à destination des clients privés, gestionnaires d’ actifs externes et institutions financières. L’ idée est simple: l’ architecture ouverte est un atout majeur pour nos clients fortunés étrangers. Quand ils viennent investir à Maurice, ils ne connaissent pas forcément le pays. Le fait d’ être en architecture ouverte, et d’ avoir comme dépositaire Euroclear, le plus grand système de règlement et livraison de titres au monde, bénéficiant de notations AA + et AA de Fitch Ratings et Standard & Poor’ s respectivement, sécurise complètement ces clients. Il faut savoir que nous sommes la première banque de l’ île à avoir acheté un fonds en roupies à travers la plateforme Euroclear! Les clients fortunés désirent avant tout avoir un aperçu global de la composition et de la performance de leur portefeuille. Ils souhaitent être à même de le faire rapidement, pendant leur pause-café ou avant d’ attraper un vol. C’ est justement cela que permet notre plateforme. Avec une simple connexion, nos clients peuvent naviguer et accéder à la valorisation de leurs investissements. Grâce à une plateforme unique, les clients ont une vision globale de leur patrimoine en temps réel, peuvent facilement identifier leurs risques, prendre des décisions d’ investissement plus rapidement et gérer leurs actifs de manière optimale.
Une des préoccupations récurrentes des clients est la sécurité, et la conservation des actifs détenus. Comment abordez-vous cette question? La protection des actifs de nos clients est- et sera toujours- partie intégrante de l’ offre Bank One. Il convient également de mentionner que notre industrie est strictement réglementée par la Financial Services Commission et la Bank of Mauritius. Dans le cas très improbable d’ insolvabilité, les investissements de nos clients sont détenus en dehors du bilan de la banque.
Avec la croissance numérique dans le domaine de la gestion du patrimoine, croyez-vous que les conseils en face-à-face deviendront un jour obsolètes? On pourrait penser qu’ avec la multiplication des plateformes robotisées, le conseil en matière de patrimoine tel que nous le connaissons est révolu. Les nouvelles technologies ont certainement un rôle important à jouer: une transparence accrue, des processus simplifiés et des conseils plus proactifs. Le numérique est nécessaire et fait partie intégrante de notre offre. Néanmoins, les interactions directes en faceà-face ou par téléphone chez Bank One restent d’ une importance cruciale; des conseils en matière d’ investissement nécessiteront, selon nous, toujours une approche personnelle et humaine. Notre modèle hybride- une combinaison de relations humaines et numériques- répondent à la complexité de la gestion de patrimoine. D’ ailleurs, nous sommes très fiers d’ avoir récemment obtenu le titre « Best Private Bank 2018 » décerné par Global Finance Magazine qui témoigne de la reconnaissance de notre qualité de service.
How has Bank One differentiated its business model to deal with new realities in customer behaviour? Private Banking has been a part of the bank ever since its inception ten years ago. Recently, however, we have introduced an extremely innovative service: An Open Architecture investment platform. While this concept is trending in Europe and Asia, it has yet to make headway in Mauritius. And this is where Bank One distinguishes itself. Bank One does not sell its own proprietary products; instead, its innovation lies in making it possible for investors to select the best Asset Management companies and investment funds-both local and international. Today, we are dealing with a new breed of investors: they are younger, grew up during economic downturns and mistrust traditional financial institutions; they are more astute in their selection of financial products and often manage their wealth on their smartphones. And as these millennials grow in size and importance, banks are rethinking their business models. An exclusively in-house approach is a thing of the past. Instead, an Open Architecture structure makes it possible for us to act in our clients’ best interests. Our platform grants clients access to worldwide bonds, equities, ETFs, funds, structured products, and to a universe of local and international investment funds. Consider us a product-neutral advisory house of sorts, which hinges on a trusting, workable synergy with External Asset Managers( EAMs). This multi-management structure combines our strength in asset allocation and our mastery in selecting accomplished asset managers. The outcome? A highly-personalized investment portfolio that is consistent with each client’ s objectives.
How does your Global Custody platform enhance client experience? Bank One has invested in a new custody software solution designed to seamlessly deploy our Open Architecture offer, and maintain the highest level of engagement with all clients: private clients, external asset managers, financial institutions. The idea is simple: The Open Architecture model presents a huge opportunity for foreign High Net Worth clients, some of whom may find that they are not well enough acquainted with Mauritius. Our depositary, Euroclear, the world ' s largest provider of securities settlements with AA + and AA ratings by Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’ s, provides them the assurance of absolute safety. Fact: we are the island’ s first bank to have settled funds in Mauritian Rupees through Euroclear! High-net-worth clients, in particular, seek an overview of their portfolio’ s composition and performance in one place. And they want to do it quickly, while on their coffee break or a commute. Our platform allows just that. By simply logging in, our clients can navigate through customized content and track their investment performance. Through one single platform, clients have an overall picture of their wealth in real time, can easily identify the risks they run, make quicker investment decisions and manage their assets optimally.
An asset owner’ s primary concern is asset safety –– cash safety and the safekeeping of assets held on his / her behalf. How do you address the issue of security? The safe protection of our clients’ assets is— and will always be— integral to Bank One’ s offering. It is worth mentioning that our industry is stringently regulated by the Financial Services Commission and the Bank of Mauritius. In the highly unlikely event of insolvency, the client’ s assets are kept off our balance sheet. Bank One has no ownership rights over the assets held with us, and we cannot emphasize this enough. Our strategic partnership with Euroclear also plays a vital role in inspiring our clients’ confidence.
With digital Wealth Management growing, do you believe face-toface advice is expected to become obsolete? With robo-platforms on the rise, one may think that wealth advisory as we know it is has ended. New technologies certainly have an important role to play— increased transparency, streamlined processes, deeper advisory insights. Digital is at the core of our offering and is designed to support our client relationship. But even so, face-toface and telephone interactions remain critically important at Bank One; investment advice will always require a personal, human touch. Our hybrid model— a winning combination of human and digital capabilities— masterfully addresses the complexities of managing wealth. The results are far, far better than when either of them operate in silos. Besides, we are the proud holders of the“ Best Private Bank 2018” title, awarded by Global Finance Magazine. A testament to the quality of our services.
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