A man’s destiny is shaped by the work he does, but also by his attitude towards life, his values and his ethics. Jean-Pierre Cuoni, founder of the international bank EFG, together in collaboration with his old friend in the ranks Lonnie Howell, embraced the virtues of ethics and loyalty in the disillusioned, practical world of finance. He was the father of the name Private Banking, and revolutionised the traditional management model of the banking institution by promoting independence for his employees.

 

Sometimes criticised but often adored by those who knew him, Jean-Pierre Cuoni was a Swiss industry giant who knew how to build rather than destroy over decades wrought with major economic and political instability.

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This documentary will tell the tale of the world's most secretive industry, Private Banking.

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It is an industry understood by almost no one, yet it has a profound impact on how wealth is generated, maintained and passed from generation to generation.

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There is beauty and there is the ugly. Some people preserve their wealth with integrity, protecting it from corrupt regimes and passing it on to their heirs. Others exploit the loopholes in the system to evade taxes and wash their dirty money.

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This film will give everyone an understanding of what Private Banking is, how it works and how two entrepreneurs tired of a traditional model built a bank within a decade that became world class.

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The film is based on the book Jean-Pierre Cuoni, A Banker with Heart written by Christophe Vuilleumier and in collaboration with Noëlle Demole. The book is available in both French and English. It can be found in Swiss book stores, in the App Store and internationally through the online stores Payot and Slakline.

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You can find more information about the book here.