EastWest Strengthens Wealth Management Platform with Focus on Advisory and Investment Expertise

Rafael S. Algarra Jr., SEVP and Head of Financial Markets and Wealth Management at EastWest, receives the Bank's award for Best Discretionary & Advisory Offering at the Global Private Banking Innovation Awards.

Building wealth today requires careful decisions across investments, liquidity, protection, and long-term financial planning. For many clients, access to sound advice and strong investment management remains as important as the products themselves.

As EastWest continues to invest in these capabilities and expand its wealth management offerings, its efforts have earned global recognition. The Bank recently received two honors at the Global Private Banking Innovation Awards: the Wealth Management team was awarded Outstanding Client Experience in Wealth Management, while the Trust & Asset Management Group was recognized for Best Discretionary & Advisory Service Offering in the Philippines.

The awards recognize two areas that continue to drive the Bank's wealth management business: client experience and investment expertise.

The Outstanding Client Experience in Wealth Management award recognizes EastWest Priority, the Bank's premier banking and wealth management segment. EastWest Priority brings together relationship management, investment solutions, insurance, lending products, and digital banking capabilities within a single banking relationship.

Clients have access to dedicated Relationship Managers who provide financial guidance tailored to individual objectives and risk profiles, supported by market insights, investment and financial planning discussions, and banking solutions for affluent individuals and families. They also gain access to expanded wealth opportunities through new investment offerings, EasyWay’s digital foreign exchange capabilities, and strategic partnerships.

The Best Discretionary & Advisory Offering award recognizes the work of EastWest's Trust and Asset Management Group (TAMG), which oversees a substantial portfolio of client assets across a range of investment strategies.

Through discretionary portfolio management, TAMG oversees investments on behalf of clients based on agreed objectives and risk parameters. Its investment process combines macroeconomic analysis, security selection, and active portfolio management across local and global markets.

Several portfolios under TAMG's management ranked among the top performers in their respective categories during the past year, as the group's investment strategies delivered strong results across equity, multi-asset, and index-tracking mandates, with several funds outperforming benchmarks and peer funds. Despite its relatively lean structure, TAMG has built a track record that has earned recognition both locally and internationally, and this performance has also contributed to growth in assets under management while strengthening EastWest's position in the wealth management space.

“This recognition speaks of the strength of our advisory platform and investment discipline at a time when markets demand greater rigor, perspective, and responsiveness,” said Rafael S. Algarra Jr., SEVP and Head of Financial Markets and Wealth Management at EastWest. “Our focus is not simply on delivering products, but on helping clients make informed capital allocation decisions, manage risk effectively, and build long-term financial security. We continue to strengthen our capabilities across advisory, portfolio management, and wealth solutions so clients can make confident financial decisions in different market environments.”

The awards come as EastWest continues to expand its wealth management capabilities across advisory services, investments, insurance, and digital banking.
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Through EastWest Priority and TAMG, the Bank offers clients access to relationship-based advisory and professional investment management supported by a growing range of financial solutions. Together, these capabilities support individuals, families, and business owners as they manage, preserve, and grow their wealth over the long term.