Our history
We can chart our heritage back to 1834 with the establishment of the South African Association for the Administration and Settlement of Estates – one of the oldest trust companies in the world.
Based on these firm foundations, we have developed a comprehensive wealth management and private banking operation on behalf of a wide range of clients. These include private individuals, families, non-trading companies and trusts.
Through our parent company, Nedbank Group, we have built our reputation on personal relationships, consistency and careful attention to clients’ needs over time.
Nedbank Group is one of South Africa’s ‘big five’ banks listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
It offers a range of wholesale and retail banking services, which includes a wealth offering and our sister company, Nedbank Private Wealth South Africa. The Nedbank Private Wealth brand was launched in 2012 when both companies were brought together under the Nedbank brand.
With the stability and financial strength of an international group underpinning a vast range of opportunities to grow and protect your wealth, it is still the personal touch which really sets us apart.
Our history timeline
1834 – The South African Association for the Administration and Settlement of Estates was established
1838 – The Board of Executors was formed
1888 – The Nederlandsche Bank en Credietvereeniging voor Zuid-Afrika was founded
1903 – The Nederlandsche Bank en Credietvereeniging voor Zuid-Afrika changed its name to The Nederlandsche Bank voor Zuid-Afrika
1925 – The Nederlandsche Bank voor Zuid-Afrika merged with the Transvaalsche Bank en Handelsvereeniging, which had been founded in 1892
1951 – The Nederlandsche Bank voor Zuid-Afrika was established as a South African banking company and changed its name to The Netherlands Bank of South Africa
1971 – The Netherlands Bank of South Africa changed its name to Nedbank
1986 – Old Mutual became the major shareholder (53%) of Nedbank
1987- The bank was established in the Isle of Man
1990- The trust company was established in Guernsey as Fairbairn Reeds Trust
1994 – A Jersey office was opened for the bank and also the trust company, “Copthall Trust”
1996 – Fairbairn Reeds Trust rebranded to Fairbairn Trust Company
1997 – Robert Fleming (Isle of Man/Jersey) Ltd restructured as Fleming Offshore, and the trust company rebranded as Fleming (Jersey) Trustees Limited
2000 – Fleming Offshore acquired by Chase Manhattan, who subsequently merged with JPMorgan
2001 – Fleming Offshore is sold by JPMorgan Chase to a joint venture between Old Mutual/Nedbank Group and rebranded to Gerrard Private Bank
2002 – We are the first British offshore island bank to receive independent “A” credit rating (A3/P2 Moody’s)
2004 – Gerrard Stockbrokers is sold to Barclays and Gerrard Private Bank rebrands to Fairbairn Private Bank and Fairbairn Trust Limited
2008 – We are the first British offshore island bank to open a branch in the UK (London)
2009 – Nedbank buys Old Mutual’s holding in Fairbairn Private Bank, Fairbairn Trust Company and Fairbairn Trust Limited – now 100% owned by Nedbank
2011 – The bank and trust company open a joint Middle East office in the United Arab Emirates
2012 – Rebranded the bank to Nedbank Private Wealth and the two trust companies to Nedgroup Trust
2022 – Nedgroup Trust acquired by Suntera Global
Get in touch
If you are interested in becoming a client, please complete the form via the ‘become a client’ button below. Alternatively, if you are already a client, or if you have a question about how we help clients in particular circumstances, please use the ‘contact us’ button.
We will get back to you as soon as we can during office hours, which are Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (UK time), except for UK public holidays.