Office address: 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
Website: ubs.com/us
Year established: 1862
Company type: financial services
Employees: 110,300+
Expertise: wealth management, investment banking, asset management, retirement planning, alternative investments, sustainable investing, corporate solutions, financial planning, risk management, capital markets
Parent company: UBS Group AG (Switzerland)
Key people: Sergio Ermotti (group CEO); Robert Karofsky, George Athanasopoulos, and Marco Valla (co-presidents); Aleksandar Ivanovic (president); Mike Dargan (group chief operations and technology officer); Todd Tuckner (group CFO)
Financing status: corporation
UBS is a leading global bank that specializes in serving high-net-worth clients and institutions. The company manages $6.6 trillion in invested assets and offers tailored financial advice and solutions to individuals, families, and institutions. Its US operations are headquartered in New York.
UBS traces its beginnings to 1862 in Switzerland, when Bank in Winterthur was created to help local business and manage a warehouse. Fifty years later, a merger with Toggenburger Bank formed Union Bank of Switzerland, which quickly grew its network and services across the country.
Swiss Bank Corporation, known as SBC, formed from several mergers in the late 1800s and soon set its sights beyond Switzerland. By 1898, SBC had opened a branch in London, showing its global ambitions.
Both Union Bank of Switzerland and SBC embraced new technology, such as adding machines and early computers. They also opened offices in major financial centers like New York, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.
A turning point came in 1998, when Union Bank of Switzerland and SBC joined forces to create UBS. This merger brought together expertise in various areas which made UBS one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
In 2000, the company entered the US market in a big way by acquiring PaineWebber, an American brokerage and asset manager. This gave the firm a strong presence in New York and across the country.
The company continued to grow, even through financial crises, and expanded its digital banking services worldwide. In 2023, it acquired Credit Suisse which strengthened its role as Switzerland’s largest universal bank.
By 2025, UBS increased checks on client money sources in Asia after a money-laundering scandal. The firm worked with Deloitte and KPMG and closed thousands of smaller accounts.
The firm combines deep market knowledge with access to both traditional and alternative investments. UBS's investment offerings include:
UBS is also known for its strong digital platforms and global network. Clients benefit from disciplined risk management and a wide selection of investment choices.
UBS states that its culture is the foundation for how the company works and adapts to change. The firm’s “three keys” represent the main values and guide daily actions:
UBS aims to create a supportive and flexible work environment for all employees. According to the company, its benefits are designed to help staff balance work and personal life:
UBS also offers regional programs to help employees manage work and family commitments. The company reports that it provides benefits that often go beyond legal requirements.
Sergio P. Ermotti serves as group CEO of UBS Group AG and has been leading the executive board since 2023. Before this, Ermotti led the company from 2011 to 2020 and served as chair at Swiss Re. He also held senior roles at UniCredit Group and Merrill Lynch. He completed advanced management training at the University of Oxford.
The UBS Group Executive Board leads the company’s global operations and oversees key business areas:
UBS Group AG uses a dual board structure as required by Swiss law. The board of directors delegates business management to the executive board.
In 2025, UBS experts shared practical strategies for family wealth conversations, focusing on values, legacy, and open communication. Judy Spalthoff and Libby Stantial explained how purposeful dialogue and programs like Emerging Successors help families prepare future inheritors. Their advice supports clients in building trust and guiding responsible wealth transitions across generations.
UBS leaders like Adrian Zuercher have also highlighted how new clients, especially younger generations and women, are driving demand for ESG and sustainable solutions. The company sees this shift as a sign that stewardship and responsible investing will play a bigger role in its future, as clients look for more return drivers and long-term value.
DPL Financial Partners’ $20 million in additional capital, Ethic Investing’s $50 million Series C round, and the demise of UBS’ deal for Wealthfront are among the highlights of this month's roundup.
The three-adviser, five-person team, Narragansett Bay Group, makes the switch in Providence, Rhode Island.
Howard Woo, Luke Schell make the wirehouse switch in Irvine, California, and operate as Sequoia Partners.
Many Hispanics are choosing to start their own businesses, and financial advisers can help those business owners realize their goals.
Two soloists and a team make the switch in Northern California.
It's the second time in as many weeks that Finra has penalized a firm for such trading problems.
Three make the switch in New York City and two will be based in Paramus, New Jersey.
In court documents, the SEC described at least a few senior managers at each firm who engaged in rampant texting with colleagues and clients.
The penalties levied against firms including Citigroup, Bank of America and Goldman Sachs constitute the largest-ever penalties against US banks for record-keeping lapses.
The advisers, who work with high- and ultra-high-net-worth families and institutions, join the firm in Washington, D.C.
Federal prosecutors also accused James T. Patten, Peter L. Coker Sr. and Peter L. Coker Jr. of artificially inflating the price of two companies through manipulative trading.
It's been win some, lose some for UBS as it defends its complex options strategy, but lately investors seem to be prevailing more.
Here's a roundup of some of the adviser fintech news you may have missed this week.
It's back to an 'organic plan' for the bank's wealth management business in the United States, says Iqbal Khan, co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management.
UBS participated in the funding round for the provider of direct indexing, which oversees more than $2 billion in assets.
