The wealth management arm of Singapore lender OCBC, Bank of Singapore, has unveiled its Family Office Catalyst, a solution designed to provide the key benefits of a single family office ( SFO ), without the burden of operating one.

At the core of the offering, the bank says, is simplicity and efficiency. Clients can now appoint the bank as the fund manager of their investment vehicle, qualifying for Singapore’s tax exemption schemes under Sections 13O and 13U of the Income Tax Act 1947, privileges typically reserved for SFOs.

To participate, a minimum of US$20 million in assets is required, which the bank will manage via its discretionary or advisory portfolio services.

Backed by a team with over 15 years of experience on average, the bank’s portfolio management strategies, especially those involving Asian equities and environmental, social and governance ( ESG ) mandates have delivered robust results.

Its Asia equity portfolio returned 14.2% year to date as of June 2025, while the Singapore equity portfolio gained 12.6% over the same period. The ESG mandate, launched in 2023, the bank shares, has notched over 20% annualized returns.

Clients opting for the new solution will also gain full access to the bank’s wealth planning services and retain the option to evolve into a traditional SFO structure later.

The solution’s launch, the bank argues, comes at a timely juncture. A 2024 McKinsey report identified rising operational costs and increasing technology demands as top concerns for family offices in Asia-Pacific. Many ultra-high-net-worth individuals ( UHNWIs ), particularly those with net worths exceeding US$250 million, are now rethinking the traditional SFO route.

“Our Family Office Catalyst solution,” says Lim Leong Guan, the bank’s global head of financial intermediaries, family office and wealth advisory, “addresses these issues by allowing individuals to tap into our deep expertise and qualify for tax incentives, all without the need to run a family office.”