Van Lanschot Kempen — The Netherlands' Private Bank and Wealth Manager

Van Lanschot Kempen (Netherlands) — Overview

Van Lanschot Kempen is a Dutch wealth manager and merchant bank focused on private banking, investment management and specialist corporate finance activities. With roots that reach back to the 18th century, the organisation combines long-standing private-banking traditions with contemporary asset-management and advisory capabilities.

Brief history and founding

The Van Lanschot banking tradition dates back several centuries and is commonly recognised as one of the oldest independent banking franchises in the Netherlands. The original Van Lanschot private banking business developed a reputation for serving affluent individuals, families and entrepreneurs.

In the 21st century the business broadened its scope and capabilities through the integration of complementary investment-banking and asset-management activities under the Kempen name. The combined group operates today under the Van Lanschot Kempen brand, reflecting the merger of heritage private-banking expertise with specialist investment and advisory services.

Type of bank

Van Lanschot Kempen is not a mass-market retail bank. It is principally a private bank and wealth manager with significant asset-management and investment-banking/merchant-banking capabilities. The organisation's activities typically fall into three broad categories:

• Private banking and wealth management for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients.
• Asset management and investment products for institutions and private clients.
• Specialist capital markets, corporate finance and advisory services under the Kempen franchise.

The group therefore combines elements of private banking, investment banking and asset management rather than standard retail-banking services for the general public.

Key services offered

Van Lanschot Kempen provides a suite of services aimed at wealthy individuals, families, institutions and corporates. Core services include:

• Private banking and wealth management: personalised portfolio management, financial planning, family and succession planning, and discretionary and advisory investment services.
• Investment management and funds: institutional asset management, mutual funds and bespoke mandates focusing on areas such as equities, fixed income and sustainable strategies.
• Corporate finance and capital markets: M&A advisory, equity and debt capital markets services, research and corporate broking primarily through the Kempen business.
• Lending and credit solutions: tailored lending, including Lombard lending and credit facilities tied to portfolios; mortgage and financing solutions may be available for private clients depending on the client segment.
• Custody, execution and brokerage services: securities execution, custody and related middle-office services for institutional and private clients.
• Specialist services: family-office solutions, trust and fiduciary services, and sustainable/ESG investment advisory.

Note: many products are targeted at affluent clients and institutional investors rather than mass-market transactional banking.

Notable features and specializations

• Heritage private-banking franchise: Van Lanschot’s long history in private banking is a distinguishing feature that emphasises personalised, relationship-driven advice.
• Integrated wealth and investment solutions: the combination with Kempen provides in-house research, capital-markets access and asset-management expertise.
• Focus on sustainability and responsible investing: the group has emphasised ESG integration across its investment products and client advice.
• Specialist mid-cap and corporate advisory capability: Kempen is known for advisory and research coverage in niche segments of the Dutch and European capital markets.

Regulatory status and deposit protection

Van Lanschot Kempen is a Dutch-registered bank and listed company and is subject to Dutch and European financial regulation. Key points:

• Supervision: banking activities are supervised by De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), and investment services and market conduct are overseen by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). The group is also subject to EU prudential and conduct rules (for example CRD/CRR and MiFID II where applicable).
• Deposit guarantee: deposits held with licensed Dutch banks are protected under the Dutch deposit-guarantee scheme in line with EU rules, which protects eligible deposits up to €100,000 per depositor, per bank (subject to the scheme’s terms and applicable exceptions).
• Listed entity: Van Lanschot Kempen is a publicly listed company on Euronext Amsterdam and therefore must comply with public reporting and corporate-governance requirements.

How to open an account (general overview)

Opening an account or establishing a relationship with Van Lanschot Kempen typically differs from opening a standard retail account because of the bank’s focus on affluent and institutional clients. General steps are:

1. Initial contact: prospective clients usually start via the bank’s website enquiry form, by phone or by an introductory meeting in a branch or office.
2. Consultation and suitability assessment: a private banker or advisor will discuss client objectives, risk profile and the services sought. For wealth-management mandates this includes discussion of investment objectives, liquidity needs and succession planning.
3. KYC and documentation: the bank performs Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money-laundering (AML) checks. Typical documents requested include valid ID, proof of address, tax-residency information and documentation regarding the source of funds and wealth.
4. Agreement and onboarding: after suitability and acceptance, the client signs account and service agreements. Discretionary mandates or investment mandates require explicit mandate agreements outlining fees and terms.
5. Funding and execution: once accounts are opened and mandated, clients transfer funds and the bank commences portfolio management, custody or other agreed services.

Because Van Lanschot Kempen targets higher-net-worth clients and institutions, some services may have minimum investment or asset thresholds. The precise requirements vary by product and jurisdiction; prospective clients should contact the bank directly for specifics.

Contact information and website

• Official website: https://www.vanlanschotkempen.com
• Contact and client enquiries (general): accessible via the website’s Contact page and local office listings for the Netherlands and other jurisdictions.
• Investor relations and regulatory information: available on the corporate website under the Investors section.

For current product details, specific branch addresses, phone numbers and the latest regulatory disclosures, consult the official website or contact the bank directly. This article provides an overview; product terms, thresholds and services may change over time and by jurisdiction.