Growth with regional proximity: A conversation with the new Head of Division

As a bank with strong roots in the region, the Retail & Corporate Banking Division aims to further expand its position – in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Germany. In this interview, Michael Hartmann, the new Head of the Division, explains which major themes shaped 2025 and where the focus lies in 2026.

Mr Hartmann, you are new in the role of Head of the Retail & Corporate Banking Division. How have you settled in?

Very well. In the first few weeks, I made a point of having many conversations – with the teams, the location managers, and also directly with clients. It was important to me to understand how the bank operates and what makes the regional markets distinctive. I was particularly struck by LLB’s strong roots among the local population and the strong sense of identification with the region. All of this confirmed to me that we have a solid foundation to build on.

How would you assess the performance of the retail and corporate banking business in 2025?

2025 was a year of important milestones for us. I would highlight three key points in particular. First, we further strengthened our presence in Germany, successfully establishing ourselves in the German market. The foundation we built over the past two years is in place, and we can build on it to continue growing. Second, we are sharpening the positioning of LLB Schweiz and leveraging our strengths in sales across all client segments. The opening of our locations in Zurich and St. Gallen is benefiting private banking and corporate clients in particular. A major strength is the quality of our advisory and client support. Third, we are currently working on our corporate client strategy so that we can pursue market opportunities in an even more structured way. Our ambition remains clear: we want to be the leading universal bank in north-eastern Switzerland, with an offering that combines breadth and quality.

“We have something that cannot easily be replicated: our proximity.”

What particular challenges or opportunities were there?

The interest rate environment has been and remains challenging – not only from the perspective of our clients, but also for us as a bank. We are constantly balancing capital requirements against profitable growth. The key is to identify the right opportunities for quality in the market. For example, many companies are currently restructuring their banking relationships. For us, that is an opportunity to grow through quality. Another important point is the gradual integration of data and technology into our sales processes. Our aim is to support our clients with the right solution at the right time and to enhance the client experience.

Numbers are not everything. How do things stand with client satisfaction and advisory quality?

I am very confident on that front, because we have something that cannot easily be replicated: our proximity. And I don’t mean that only in a geographical sense. Personal accessibility, direct lines of communication, and reliable points of contact are more important than ever for many clients today. The more digital the world becomes, the more important personal accessibility and advisory services become. Our clients recognise and value this. Thanks to our strong roots in the region, we understand their needs very well – whether in direct client business, private banking, or among entrepreneurs. At the same time, we are not resting on our laurels. We are continually working to raise the quality of our advice.

What are your goals for the coming financial year?

We want to drive our Germany business forward and translate the foundation we have built there into further growth. In Switzerland, we aim to position ourselves even more strongly as a regional universal bank, with an offering that combines client proximity, expertise, and reliability. A key success factor will be close collaboration across all business areas and locations. Finally, we want to continue improving efficiency – not to cut costs, but to deploy resources where they create the greatest benefit: with our clients.