"Looks like dog-walking is gone for good. In the old days, some private bankers' idea of customer service was to take your poodle for an outing, or perhaps bring you a cup of soup in the hospital," notes Barron's in an article about the new momentum the private banking industry has generated.

We've noted before that the financial crisis has created a terrific opportunity for financial advisors, as clients yearn for advice from people they can truly trust. Many extremely rich individuals, like many retail customers, have moved into cash. They'd like to do more with their money, but don't know how in an era where everything seems topsy-turvy.

Private bankers are bent on making the most of this opportunity. They've diversified their offerings, embraced the iPad digital age, and battled for the high-end of high-net worth families with new urgency.

Barron's has created a list of the top private banks domestically. JPMorgan easily leads the way, with more than $400 billion in assets under management. U.S. Trust comes in a distant second with $150 billion in assets under management, followed by BNY Mellon Wealth, Northern Trust, Bessemer Trust and Citi Private Bank.

For more:
- here's the article

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