Stronger together
The future starts now
The future starts now
Together, we are so much stronger than the sum of our parts and 2018 demonstrated the value of effective partnering.
Spotlight
Spotlight
Speaking about the unspeakable
Speaking about the unspeakable
Human trafficking is a global crisis. It's also much closer than most realize. We teamed up to address the issue.
"We help our clients navigate the firm"
"We help our clients navigate the firm"
Explaining your job to others isn't always easy. But Emily Jolliffe, UBS Investment Bank, takes on the challenge.
What we stand for
We constantly evolve in response to new challenges, but we have strategic clarity and consistency.
Read the interview
Stronger together
Stronger together
The four words that started a movement
The four words that started a movement
Some words are capable of moving mountains or changing the way we tackle social concerns.
Three experts, two mandates, one firm
Three experts, two mandates, one firm
Every success we have is only made possible by working together.
Enhancing services for smaller enterprises
Enhancing services for smaller enterprises
Running a business isn't for the faint-hearted. We're finding ways to make it simpler.
Our year in numbers
Our year in numbers
In 2018, we met many milestones and continued to demonstrate the strength of our diversified business model. See our year in numbers, including financial performance, workforce statistics and UBS Optimus Foundation updates.
Innovative finance
Innovative finance
Our firm
Individuals around the world look to UBS to provide them with the advice, expertise and opportunities they need to grow their wealth. Learn how we do it.
Read more
Our year's highlights
Our year's highlights
One million downloads
Eleven years after we introduced our e-banking via mobile devices, the UBS Mobile Banking app hit one million downloads.
UBS promotes LGBT rights
We launched the InsightShares LGBT Employment Equality ETF. The exchange-traded fund will invest in companies that promote corporate equality for all employees in the workplace and will track an index based on a Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Asset Management New Horizons event
Thought leaders shared insights on Sustainable and Impact Investing themes at the inaugural Asset Management New Horizons event. The idea behind this new series of events is to bring together perspectives from UBS experts, academia and external Fintech start-ups to address one of three themes: client needs, investment strategies or new technologies.
Global integration
We integrated our Wealth Management and Wealth Management Americas to create a single business division called Global Wealth Management. In our first year of combined operations, we reached a decade-high profit before tax driven by record results in net interest and recurring net fee income.
Voted best in business – again
We were named number one globally for Best Private Banking Services Overall in the 2018 Euromoney Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey. We also claimed the top spot in other categories, including best private banking services in Western Europe and Asia, best bank for cash management in Switzerland and best firm for international clients, both globally and in the United States.
Sovereign Investment Circle
Held in Singapore by our Asset Management, the meeting was for high-level executives from sovereign institutions, focusing on the future investment landscape. Topics included digitalization, competitiveness, sustainability, long-term investing and dealing with economic uncertainty.
UBS Kids Cup
This year more than 163,000 children took part in the UBS Kids Cup. We are not only a sponsor, but hundreds of UBS employees support the event as volunteers. Without them it would be impossible to carry out all the different contests. Many up-and-coming athletic talents in Switzerland, like Yasmin Giger, have had their first successes at the UBS Kids Cup.
Zurich Marathon
On 22 April, more than 108 UBS teams started at the Zurich marathon. They collected donations for a UBS Optimus Foundation project. The more than CHF 37,000 raised allowed the project "We Care Solar" to finance eleven solar suitcases that will help to save lives in developing countries where clinics don't have continuous electricity supply.
Best asset manager in China
Our Asset Management was ranked best-performing foreign asset manager in China in the Z-Ben Advisors China report. The evaluation of 100 investment companies placed us in front of J.P. Morgan. The Chinese market is expected to provide the single-largest growth opportunity for asset managers globally.
UBS Philanthropy Conference
Over 400 eminent philanthropists, business families, social entrepreneurs and impact investors gathered for the 2018 UBS Philanthropy Conference in Hangzhou and Singapore. A malaria eradication program in Southeast Asia and the UBS Optimus Foundation’s China Representative Office were announced.
Swiss Economic Forum
At the 20th edition of the Swiss Economic Forum, 1,350 decision makers from business, science and politics discussed new ideas. We are a premium partner of Switzerland’s leading economic conference and hosted a breakout session.
Third-biggest internet IPO ever
We played a key role in the e-commerce initial public offering (IPO) for Chinese website Pinduoduo. This generated a transaction value of USD 4.2 billion, making the deal the world’s third-largest internet IPO in history.
A+ in sustainability
Our Asset Management retained an A+ in the areas of property and infrastructure and achieved an A+ in strategy and governance in the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) sustainable investment ratings.
Concept Space+ in Fribourg
With Concept Space+, we are introducing a new and surprising way of approaching young people. Concept Space+ in Fribourg is an area where people can brainstorm and work, culture can develop and students and freelancers can share ideas. Events, talks and workshops are held on selected evenings.
UBS Digital Business
We now offer smaller corporate clients a single-source digital solution for their needs. Thanks to the user-friendly Mobile Banking app, information can even be accessed when on the move, and payment orders issued and approved.
Read the interview with Alain Conte, head of Corporate and Institutional Clients
The 3000th employee in India and a second office in Pune
October 2018 marked many milestones for our presence in India. Three years after opening the first business solutions center (BSC) in Pune, we recruited the 3,000th full-time employee (FTEs) in India, while also opening a second office there. Additionally we have more than 11,000 contractors and FTEs based in India. Our Pune UBS-BSC focuses on technology and HR service practice while Mumbai attracts talent with strong financial market backgrounds.
Most powerful in finance
American Banker honored three UBS executives for their professional achievements and philanthropic endeavors. Rosemary Berkery received a Lifetime Achievement Award, Suni Harford was No. 14 on Most Powerful Women in Finance and Paula Polito was No. 20.
Investor Update in London
We presented an update for investors at a special event in London, wherein we reaffirmed our strategy and ambition and outlined plans for profit growth.
Award for index funds and ETFs
Strong asset gathering in our Asset Management led us to win Financial News’> Asset Management Awards Europe for Index Funds / ETF Provider of the Year, reflecting our development of an innovative and differentiated suite of offerings.
Swiss National Education Prize
We received the annual Swiss National Education Prize from the Hans Huber Stiftung and Stiftung FH Schweiz – two foundations whose mission is grounded in promoting the importance of vocational educations. We will donate the CHF 20,000 prize money to our community partner Schweizer Jugend forscht (SJF), a foundation that motivates innovation and curiosity through a national research competition.
10th Retirement Forum
We hosted the 10th Retirement Forum focused on the Gender Wealth Gap – addressing the fact that the average women is less well off than the average man when it comes to retirement. Many different ways for women to narrow this gap or to close it altogether were discussed.
Reopening our headquarters
After three years of renovations, our global headquarters in Zurich has reopened for business. Renovated carefully, true to history and the latest sustainability standards, it houses state-of-the-art technology as well as artwork from the UBS collection.
Prix Sommet
The 33rd edition of the UBS "Prix Sommet" innovation award focused on companies that are experiencing disruption, i.e., companies whose business model is in danger in the face of various innovations, such as new technologies. Three such companies were identified and receive expert support for a year. More than 1,000 guests as well as our CEO Sergio Ermotti were present at the launch event.
First 51% majority in China securities joint venture
We became the first foreign bank to increase our stake to gain majority control of a securities joint venture in China. Following a change in legislation, UBS Group's stake in UBS Securities rose from 24.99% to 51%. Since establishing our onshore presence in China in 1989, we have been on the forefront of foreign investment in China. This underlines our long-term commitment to this market.