When Vincent de Wildt arrived in Luxembourg in 2014, he expected to stay for three years. Eleven years later, the Dutchman, who will turn 38 in May, has become a familiar figure in the Grand Duchy’s financial sector.
“Many expats come with the same mindset – they see Luxembourg as a temporary stop,” he says with a smile. “But life here is good, so we stayed. My career, my friends, and my family are all here now.” His children are well integrated and attend the local school. His family lives in neighboring Germany and The Netherlands. As an example with a Dutch father and a French mother, his oldest daughter now speaks 5 languages as do many children here in Luxembourg. “Honestly, what more could we ask for?”.
"Life here is good, so we stayed. My career, my friends, and my family are all here now.”
After studying business economics in the Netherlands, Vincent began his career at ABN Amro Zürich at the age of 21. Dreaming of a career in banking, joining such a prestigious institution in a major financial centre seemed like the perfect start. But the global financial crisis was reshaping the industry. When the Swiss branch of ABN Amro was sold to the local group UBP, Vincent faced his first major career decision, whether to stay in Switzerland or move on.
The bank offered him several options: Brussels, Frankfurt, or Luxembourg. He didn’t hesitate. “For someone like me, who wanted an international career in private banking, the choice was clear. Within the EU, Luxembourg is the international financial hub. Everything revolves around cross-border services.”
Since March 2025, De Wildt has been Head of Private Banking and Managing Director at VP Bank Luxembourg, the Liechtenstein-based institution well established in the Grand Duchy. It’s a key leadership role in a sector where client trust is earned through experience and stability – both of which his career clearly demonstrates.
When he first arrived in Luxembourg, Vincent joined ABN Amro as an advisor to the CEO, contributing to the reorganisation of its private banking business before becoming Deputy Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Sales for Private Banking. In 2018, the local entity was sold to BGL BNP Paribas, a deal in which he played a direct role. He remained there for three years before moving to Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL) as Head of Northern Europe – Wealth Management. When BIL later scaled back its activities in that region, he joined VP Bank, bringing part of his team with him. “Just like at ABN Amro, I found a much flatter hierarchy here, a culture that really suits me,” he notes.
De Wildt attributes much of his professional growth to Luxembourg’s unique business environment. “Because the country is small, you can reach decision-makers quickly, sometimes you literally bump into them in the street. And unlike in London or Zürich, where local networks dominate, many key players here are expats like me, who came for the same reasons. That makes building relationships far easier.”
In just over a decade, he has also witnessed major shifts in Luxembourg’s private banking landscape. The regulatory framework has tightened considerably which has strengthened investor protection and anti-money-laundering measures. “As a result, bankers now spend more time on compliance and administration than on growing clients’ wealth,” he says. “The authorities know they need to push harder on digitalisation and artificial intelligence to stay competitive. Speed is essential.”
“Many key players here are expats like me, who came for the same reasons. That makes building relationships far easier.”
The arrival of a new generation of investors, younger and more tech-savvy, also provides an opportunity to bring the next generation of talent into this sector to serve these new clients. “For young professionals, private banking in Luxembourg remains full of potential. A large share of the current workforce will retire in the next coming years, which is a real concern for the sector but also a huge opportunity.”
Despite advances in technology, De Wildt is adamant that one-on-one relationships are key. “Clients still want a trusted advisor who’s available and by their side throughout their life. Many banks have lost that sense of holistic service. Yet even among younger wealthy clients, the desire for personal attention and long-term relationships is growing, and maybe even more important again.”
For anyone considering a move to Luxembourg to start a career in banking, De Wildt offers practical advice: “Start building your network where you are now, in your home market. If you can show an existing network or client base early on, your chances of success increase significantly.”
And as for language skills? “It surprises me how many candidates hesitate because they don’t speak French,” he says. “Of course, every extra language helps, but in most cases, English and your mother tongue are more than enough.”
“For young professionals, private banking in Luxembourg remains full of potential.”
Despite the ongoing shifts in regulation, technology, and client expectations, De Wildt remains confident in Luxembourg’s long-term role as a leading private banking hub. “Clients want stability and regulatory clarity, and Luxembourg provides both. The key will be to keep modernising, and to meet the next generation where they are: through their preferred channels, technologies, and values. Staying ahead on, digitalisation, and client engagement will be crucial.”
As private banking faces a period of profound change, Vincent De Wildt is placing his hopes in a new generation of professionals, as ambitious and internationally minded as he once was, to carry the industry forward while keeping clients’ interests at heart.