Patronus, Mauritian Private Bank, Shines at the WealthBriefing MENA Awards

Patronus Wealth Privé (DIFC) Limited has been honored four times at the WealthBriefing MENA Awards for Excellence 2025, making it the only institution to receive multiple accolades during the twelfth edition of this prestigious event. The awards were won in the following categories: Asia-Based Private Bank, Private Bank Servicing Clients US$10M–US$50M, Innovative Product or Client Service, and Most Innovative Wealth Management Model.

The WealthBriefing MENA Awards for Excellence annually recognize financial institutions and wealth management professionals who stand out for their service excellence, innovation, and best practices in the Middle East and North Africa region. Organized by WealthBriefing, these awards are judged by an independent panel and are a recognized benchmark in the international wealth management industry.

This international recognition reflects the vision developed by the founders trained in Switzerland, Romesh Atapattu and Nikhilesh Pawar, who collectively bring over five decades of banking experience and offer a wealth management model based on client relationships.

Awarded just over a year after Patronus received its full banking license from the Bank of Mauritius in February 2024, these accolades also acknowledge the bank's remarkable performance over the past year. With backing from prominent partners BNY Mellon and Euroclear, Patronus swiftly reached nearly USD 1 billion in assets under custody.

Exemplary Performance for Local Wealth Management Firms

For wealth management companies in the Mauritius International Financial Centre (MIFC) that support affluent families, this quadruple recognition addresses a recurring challenge: how to leverage a Swiss-quality banking relationship centered on advice rather than product sales and quarterly indicators? Through a structure specifically designed for long-term wealth support for families, Patronus provides a reliable and robust solution to this issue.

The award for Asia-Based Private Bank attests to the institutional strength of the group: wealth management firms can thus offer their clients asset custody with BNY Mellon and Euroclear, as well as access to global markets through a locally accessible bank. The award in the US$10M–US$50M category demonstrates clear expertise in a segment where client relationships are essential. In addition to investment management, Patronus offers high-end services in estate planning, cross-border structuring, and multigenerational support.

The other two awards received further affirm the innovative momentum and unique solutions provided by the wealth management bank. Patronus is based on a three-tiered architecture that allows for accommodating different wealth thresholds while focusing on building strong relationships with clients, whether they are emerging wealth (starting from USD 100,000) or multimillion-dollar family offices.

“After over thirty years in Swiss private banking, we realized that family officers need advisors who act like a family doctor or trusted lawyer. To provide the best possible service, having a holistic view of the family across generations is a significant advantage, especially in a sector where competition can be fierce. When children study abroad, during succession planning, or in times of market volatility, clients seek continuity in relationships, not just a new product offering. This continuity is precisely what these awards acknowledge,” says Romesh Atapattu.

An Infrastructure for Multigenerational Advisory

A relationship-based model requires a specific infrastructure. Patronus offers asset custody with BNY Mellon and Euroclear, providing its clients with institutional-level security and independent reporting. This enables wealth management firms to effectively protect their assets while relationship managers focus entirely on advisory services.

Moreover, the bank's open architecture platform allows advisors to recommend the most appropriate solutions without product bias (a key element of fiduciary relationships). BNY Mellon's institutional technology ensures smooth operational execution (mobile banking, simplified onboarding, real-time reporting), freeing advisors from operational constraints to concentrate on understanding families.

This influx of awards is tangible proof of the effectiveness of a solution that is both simple and innovative in modern wealth management: giving measurable value to relational banking. Wealth management firms supporting estates, structuring cross-border assets, or advising the new generation of heirs now have independently validated capabilities, accessible from Mauritius.

“Being the only institution awarded in four categories proves that global relational banking produces results. We serve different client profiles: starting from USD 100,000 for professional clients (Patronus Prime), USD 400,000 for affluent clients (Patronus Prestige), up to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices starting from USD 50 million (Patronus Privé). All with the same relational intensity and a tailored service framework. For wealth management firms, this means it is possible to support their entire client base through a unique banking relationship,” emphasizes co-founder Nikhilesh Pawar.