As mentioned, we had our first meeting of the Financial Services Club in Oslo last week, and a fine affair it was. The most impressive aspect of the meeting being the palatial surroundings of the British Ambassador's Residence in Oslo. We hold many of our European meetings in partnership with the British Embassies, and sometimes…
We had our second meeting of the Nordic Financial Services Club in Oslo last week. It was a fantastic meeting with case studies from a number of local firms including Schibsted Media Group, ValYou and Nordea. I’ll write up some of this later this week, but wanted to begin with some history. Not some history of…
We had our second meeting of the Nordic Financial Services Club in Oslo last week. It was a fantastic meeting with case studies from a number of local firms including Schibsted Media Group, ValYou and Nordea. I’ll write up some of this later this week, but wanted to begin with some history. Not some history of…
OK, a last and final post about Swiss bankers and then I’ll shut up. For centuries, Switzerland has been the centre of banking in Europe. As explained, this is due to the Knights Templar and Protestant Reformation at its heart, and is the reason that led to Voltaire (1694-1778) being quoted as saying: “If you…
OK, a last and final post about Swiss bankers and then I’ll shut up. For centuries, Switzerland has been the centre of banking in Europe. As explained, this is due to the Knights Templar and Protestant Reformation at its heart, and is the reason that led to Voltaire (1694-1778) being quoted as saying: “If you…
In a penultimate view of the history of Swiss banking, one important dimension is why the largest Swiss banks – UBS and Credit Suisse – are based in Zurich, rather than Geneva, Basel or Bern. Zurich. The largest town in Switzerland with a population of 400,000 people is tiny compared to London with its millions…
In a penultimate view of the history of Swiss banking, one important dimension is why the largest Swiss banks – UBS and Credit Suisse – are based in Zurich, rather than Geneva, Basel or Bern. Zurich. The largest town in Switzerland with a population of 400,000 people is tiny compared to London with its millions…
Further to the previous two entries about Swiss Banking (the settlements of the Knights Templar and the Protestant Reforms), we move into the 16th century with Switzerland proving an attractive ground for migration of the Protestants persecuted overseas. As mentioned, this period created the strong movement towards neutrality from any wars or hostilities overseas –…
Further to the previous two entries about Swiss Banking (the settlements of the Knights Templar and the Protestant Reforms), we move into the 16th century with Switzerland proving an attractive ground for migration of the Protestants persecuted overseas. As mentioned, this period created the strong movement towards neutrality from any wars or hostilities overseas –…
I blogged a while ago about Switzerland and its origins as a financial centre, dating back to the Knights Templar. After spending a couple of days in Switzerland, I found a fascinating book that sheds more light on the background to this small, but important, centre of private banking. The book is called Swiss Made:…
