Lucy Wu · Singapore Property

Private Banking vs Priority Banking in Singapore — How to Choose

By Lucy Wu · Licensed Real Estate Agent (CEA R062904B) · 2 July 2026

In Singapore, priority (VIP) banking and private banking are two tiers. Per banks’ public info, priority thresholds are about S$200k–350k, while private banking runs from S$1.5M to US$25M. In short, priority is “dedicated RM + standard products”; private banking is “private banker + bespoke solutions”.

💡 Lucy’s tip: Property, cross-border capital and succession often need the higher tier. Many UHNW clients do private banking + family office + property together.

Comparison (per banks’ public info)

ItemPriority (VIP)Private Bank
Threshold~S$200k–350kS$1.5M – US$25M
ServiceDedicated RMOne-to-one private banker team
ProductsStandard funds, insuranceBespoke, structured, private markets, financing
ExtrasPriority service, FX perksSuccession, cross-border tax, trust
ForMass affluentHNW / UHNW

Reference thresholds

Priority: DBS Treasures ~S$350k, UOB Privilege ~S$350k, OCBC Premier ~S$200k — see opening an account.

Private: DBS Private Bank from ~S$1.5M; SC Priority Private ~S$1.5M; Citi/JP Morgan ~US$25M. Non-resident foreigners: US$2M–5M, strict source-of-wealth docs, ~2–3 months, often by introduction.

Linked to property

Private banks often offer cross-border mortgages and asset-backed financing — key for large purchases and cash management.

Summary

  • Priority: S$200k–350k, standard service.
  • Private: S$1.5M to US$25M, bespoke.
  • Contact Lucy to pick the right tier and connect property financing.

⚠️ Thresholds and services as per each bank’s latest terms.

FAQ

What's the difference between priority and private banking?

Per banks' public info, priority banking (VIP) thresholds are about S$200k–350k with a dedicated relationship manager and standard wealth products; private banking has higher thresholds (S$1.5M to US$25M) with a one-to-one private banker, bespoke investments, financing and succession services.

What are private banking thresholds?

Per public info, DBS Private Bank from ~S$1.5M, Standard Chartered Priority Private ~S$1.5M, and Citi/JP Morgan etc. around US$25M; non-resident foreigners usually need US$2M–5M with strict source-of-wealth documentation.

Which should I choose?

If your investable assets are in the hundreds of thousands SGD and you want standard products, priority banking is enough; if assets run into millions and you need bespoke investments, cross-border financing or succession planning, private banking suits.

⚠️ Figures are accurate as of the publish/update date and may change. Always verify with official sources (IRAS, URA, SLA, HDB, MAS). This is general information, not specific investment or tax advice — consult a licensed agent and professional advisers. Contact Lucy: WeChat wlx567 · +65 8310 5396.