Reflections on private banking in 2025

In 2025, private transactional banking began to reflect a deeper transition, influenced by regulatory shifts, evolving client needs and the continuing integration of digital infrastructure into everyday financial services. Clients are demanding more than execution. They now expect integration across systems, clarity in compliance, and infrastructure that supports fluid financial activity across borders, all to ensure they are given access to the best data, their patrons receive friction-free processing, and the client receives efficient service delivery aligned with their business flows.

This evolution has become especially evident in how institutions support operational complexity. A globally ranked UK university recently chose to work with a regulated payment provider instead of a traditional bank to handle international tuition payments. The provider delivers not just the payment channel but also a reconciliation layer that matches remittances to student accounts denominated in local currency. This move reflects a broader trend in financial services where value lies in complete and accurate execution, not simply the transfer of funds.

Financial institutions that have adapted their operations to embed compliance, data automation and service precision are proving more relevant to clients. The ability to provide real-time insight into liquidity, support multi-currency operations and ensure regulatory readiness has become central to the value proposition.

A new era of client expectations

Clients are demanding more, and it’s as much about values as it is about technology. Today’s investors are not only measuring performance but also seeking alignment between their capital and long-term personal or institutional commitments.

This trend is particularly visible among family offices and clients who prioritise sustainability. In 2025, we saw more structured products focused on environmental priorities such as sustainable agriculture, ocean waste recovery and resource regeneration. These investment flows often require specialised payment infrastructure to facilitate the movement of capital from global centres of wealth to project-based geographies. Payment providers play a critical role in enabling this flow through systems that accommodate complex regulatory expectations.

Digital expectations have also created new demands on the infrastructure that supports asset management. The narrowing gap between digital and fiat finance means clients increasingly expect interoperability. Crypto-native institutions are acquiring regulated payment firms to create access to compliance tools, fiat custody and settlement capability. These acquisitions are reshaping how the market defines infrastructure and they reflect a shift towards integrated systems that can support the full life cycle of both digital and traditional financial assets.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

As we approach 2026, one scenario that is on the top of my mind is the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrency as a legitimate payment method. In some cases, goods and services are now being priced directly in cryptocurrency. If this continues, it could change how payments are processed, how FX exposure is managed and how cross-border transactions are settled.

Mergers and acquisitions are also likely to increase across the payments sector. Digital firms with strong technical capacity are seeking to add regulated capabilities to their operations. This activity reflects a deeper need to unify infrastructure and ensure that services are both compliant and scalable.

Looking further ahead, private transactional banking is moving from safe asset holding toward active business partnership. This demands infrastructure that is compliant by design and capable of operating fluidly across regulatory and geographic boundaries. Institutions that invest in operational integrity will be better positioned to support clients in a changing environment. 

In the years ahead, the firms best positioned to succeed will be those grounded in trust, equipped with the right technology, and committed to operational transparency. This approach will give clients confidence in the security of their wealth, enable effective cross-border management, and provide assurance that their financial strategy remains aligned with long-term goals and personal values.

Krishna Subramanyan, CEO, Bruc Bond