Private bank woos women, probably not feminists

RBS Coutts, the international private banking arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, has launched a new private banking initiative tailored specifically for the high-net-worth HNW woman in Asia.

At first blush, this feels a bit gimmicky -- or even worse, arguably condescending -- suggesting that the way traditional investment advice is delivered isn't appropriate for women. Indeed, the bank says women want to be spoken to in a different manner to men.

Wealthy women in Asia are highly involved in investment decision making and expect their private bankers to provide timely and tailored counsel. Our study shows that HNW women expect product offerings to be no different from those offered to their...