Singapore-based DBS Group is accelerating its wealth management ambitions across Asia with plans to open 18 new wealth centres by the end of 2027, marking the largest physical expansion of its wealth franchise to date. The bank will also upgrade 36 existing wealth centres over the next 18 months as it responds to rising demand from affluent and high-net-worth clients across the region.
The expansion will cover six key markets — Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan — and comes as Asia’s affluent wealth pool is projected to reach US$4.7 trillion in 2026. According to DBS, the move is designed to strengthen client relationships through deeper in-person advisory services, even as digital wealth platforms continue to gain traction.
DBS Wealth Centres set for largest regional expansion
According to a DBS announcement, the new wealth centres will serve as integrated advisory hubs where clients can access investment planning, insurance solutions, succession strategies and cross-border wealth services.
The bank said Singapore’s DBS Treasures wealth centre network will expand by 50% as part of the initiative. In Singapore and Hong Kong, the facilities will primarily serve Treasures clients, while in mainland China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan they will cater to both Treasures and Treasures Private Client customers.
DBS Group Head of Consumer Banking Sanjoy Sen said clients increasingly want banking relationships that feel “personal, familiar and close to home,” highlighting the growing importance of proximity and trust in wealth management.
Why DBS is investing in physical advisory hubs
While digital banking adoption continues to rise, DBS believes affluent customers still value face-to-face engagement. The bank cited surveys showing that nearly half of wealth clients in Hong Kong and Singapore continue meeting relationship managers in person.
Unlike traditional bank branches, the new centres are designed around advisory conversations rather than everyday transactions. The facilities will feature dedicated meeting spaces for portfolio reviews, family wealth discussions, succession planning and specialist consultations.
The strategy aligns with broader industry trends as banks compete for a larger share of Asia’s rapidly growing wealth management market. A recent Reuters report noted that DBS has repositioned wealth management as a major growth engine, with assets under management reaching S$492 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
Asia wealth boom continues to reshape banking strategies
The expansion reflects a long-term trend that has been building for several years. In 2024, DBS unveiled a reimagined Treasures Centre in Hong Kong focused on serving affluent clients from both Hong Kong and mainland China, signalling an early shift toward premium advisory experiences and larger wealth-focused facilities.
That investment followed DBS’ broader push into Greater China, where the bank had already announced plans to increase hiring and investment activity to capture rising cross-border wealth opportunities. The latest expansion suggests the lender is now scaling that strategy across multiple Asian markets.
Industry observers have increasingly pointed to wealth management as a key growth pillar for Singapore’s major banks as lending growth slows and interest-rate tailwinds moderate. According to Asian Banking & Finance, DBS expects the first wave of new centres to begin opening in the third quarter of 2026, with additional launches continuing through 2027.
Cross-border wealth demand driving expansion
One of the defining themes behind the DBS Wealth Centres rollout is the increasing international nature of Asian wealth. Many affluent families now hold assets, businesses and investments across multiple jurisdictions, creating demand for integrated cross-border banking support.
DBS said the new centres will be built with onshore-offshore connectivity in mind, allowing relationship managers to coordinate services across markets and support clients with increasingly complex financial needs.
The bank has also emphasized multi-generational wealth planning as a growing focus area, reflecting a wider shift among Asian families toward succession planning and long-term capital preservation.
What the DBS Wealth Centres expansion means for Asia banking
The new advisory hubs underline how wealth management is becoming a central battleground for Asia’s leading banks. As affluent populations grow and wealth becomes more mobile across borders, institutions are investing heavily in both technology and personalized advisory services.
For DBS, the combination of digital capabilities and expanded physical advisory infrastructure appears aimed at capturing a larger share of the region’s fast-growing affluent segment. With Asia’s wealth pool continuing to expand, the bank’s 18-centre rollout could become one of the most significant regional wealth management investments undertaken by a Southeast Asian lender in recent years.
Additional details on individual market launches are expected in the coming months, with DBS indicating that centre openings will be phased through 2027.
